Maidens of the Kaleidoscope
~Beyond the Border~ => Rumia's Party Games => Mystia's Stored Games => Topic started by: Oldmansour on January 19, 2012, 10:00:38 PM
-
>You are Byakuren Hijiri, 18 years old, resident of the city of Mayoiga, caretaker (owner) of Rin Kaenbyou, resident of the Moonside apartments, and third year student of Mayoiga High. A few days ago, you were the most popular girl in school, one of the most well-known and liked girls around town. And then you touched a strange doll, and saw a world not your own. That was the day that everything changed, and you became Magical Lotus, the Hero of the Heart.
>At the start of the day, you had still been plagued by your battle with the yellow-skinned creature called a youma, and the fear that you had killed a living creature, and the guilt. Today those fears and guilts were allayed during your visit to the shrine of the Metal Tiger on the west side of town. As well as your fear that you might be alone in your fight. While at the shrine, you and part-timer Lily White were paid a visit by the Metal Tiger himself, who gave you both what insight He could into the enemy of the world, and the battle you now face, along with warnings that the head miko of His shrine, Satori Komeji, is not to be trusted, and that the strange doll you met after your fight with the youkai is your ally. Or at least, is not your enemy.
>Shortly after this meeting, you learned of one of your newfound powers: the ability to 'meld' your heart with that of another, and you joined your heart to Lily White's, in an attempt to remove an interdiction in her mind, keeping her from speaking the truth about a matter. This intimate contact left you with some lingering feelings of the light-hearted joy that you felt in Lilly's heart, and she reported having some influence from your heart, as well. Further consequences, if any, have not revealed themselves. The ring you acquired from the evil doll, and purified during your inner battle, produced another ring, one meant for Lily White, who accepted the duty of defending the earth very easily, and she became the first member of your harem the Hero of Spring.
>While sharing lunch with Lily and a member of her own harem another miko at the shrine, you met a young woman named Asuka Nagashima, who prefers to be known as Eagle. She is a member of the Manari, a four-member gang of no-goodnicks that had got themselves in trouble with the law, and was serving community service at the shrine. Seeing an opportunity, you have commissioned her into helping you locate a missing pendant, belonging to one Chen Yakumo, in exchange for a few strands of your hair, a picture of the both of you together, and a yet-to-be determined amount of money. Payment remains outstanding at this point.
>During your negotiations, the Eagle pointed out a glow in your pocket. Moments later, the gold ring that had been the youma you thought you had murdered transmogrified into a true youkai, free of the taint of the darkness and free to live the life she chose. According to her, it was the connection between your heart and Lily's that triggered this emergence. How this can be, you're not sure. She regards you and Lily both as her mothers, while is a source of some embarrassment, but not a bad kind.
>After you and Eagle entertained the shrine maidens of the Metal Tiger shrine with a song, and having a somewhat unpleasant exchange with a higher ranked, rather uptight, miko named Kiku, you and Eagle departed the shrine to find Chie's pendant, while Lily brought the newborn youkai, whom you have named Marigold, to the Center for the Recently Ascended, to help her adjust to her new existence. Despite numerous warnings about the Eagle being nothing but trouble, you've found her to be fairly good company, and have reason to believe she's not entirely happy with her life. Criminal though she may be, you suspect she has her reasons.
>Your investigation has taken you first to a little store called Kourin-dou, which is only slightly less organized than Nitori's shed. That is to say, it's a mess and a half. Your homeroom and history teacher, Keine Kamishirasawa, is present as well. The owner, Rinnosuke Morichika, appears to be boiling something sweet in the back room. The Eagle has gone to lunch. The time is now 5:56 PM.
>"I do."
>Try to get an idea what that tarped object is, without touching it.
>You make your way closer to the large tarp, picking your way across the detritus on the floor without stepping on things. The object has a circular base made of some sort of stone, a dark grey, with a circumference of about three and a half feet. It stands approximately seven feet tall. You can't make out any sort of plaque or inscription on the visible parts of the base. It has a distinctly 'statue' feel about it, but if it is, you're not quite sure what it's of, beyond the impression that it is most likely a humanoid figure of some sort. A glance around the store reveals no obvious way an object this large could have gotten inside the place, let alone behind the counter. But then, there's a fair amount of the place obscured behind copious amounts of merchandise.
>The boiling sound get even louder, and you hear Rinnosuke mutter something else out loud before a loud POP, accompanied by the sound of glass shattering, rings out through the place. The sickly sweet smell grows stronger, and a puff of white smoke billows out from the back room. Rinnosuke coughs, sounding more surprised than anything. "That's not gone well. *kaff kaff*"
-
>"Are you okay?"
-
>"Are you okay?"
>"Just fine, thank you." Rinnosuke calls back, the door to the back room opening. "Experiments sometimes have unexpected results." he says simply as he walks onto the store floor. He is covered, from head to toe. in white and pink dust, and he wears a somewhat bemused expression.
-
>"What... happened?"
-
>"What... happened?"
>He produces a handkerchief and starts wiping off his glasses. "An unexpected result."
-
>Give him a quick look over, does the pink and white dust seem to include any red spots that would indicate blood from cuts caused by that shattering glass?
-
>Give him a quick look over, does the pink and white dust seem to include any red spots that would indicate blood from cuts caused by that shattering glass?
>None that you can detect. Other than sporting an odd color scheme, he seems in peak physical condition.
>No, scratch that. He DOES have a couple of small red spots on his shoes.
-
>Well, he's not bleeding badly. Let him finish cleaning up before pointing it out to him.
-
>Well, he's not bleeding badly. Let him finish cleaning up before pointing it out to him.
>Allotting the shopkeep a few moments to clean off his glasses, he places them back on his face, then gives you a closed-eye smile. "What can I do for you today, young lady?"
-
>"I think you're bleeding, sir,"
>Gesture toward the red spots.
-
>"I think you're bleeding, sir,"
>Gesture toward the red spots.
>"Oh, those?" he says, glancing down. "No, I'm afraid that's just paint." He sighs faintly. "Serves me right for painting the house with my favourite shows on. But, I like these shoes."
-
>"Oh, good. I was afraid you were getting that pink stuff in some wounds."
>"Anyways, I'm looking for a particular necklace, and have been directed toward you to find it."
-
>"Oh, good. I was afraid you were getting that pink stuff in some wounds."
>"Anyways, I'm looking for a particular necklace, and have been directed toward you to find it."
>"That would be uncomfortable, indeed."
>"Well, I shall certainly endeavor to please. Something for a friend? Boyfriend? Girlfriend?"
-
>"A friend, kind of. It's a bit more complicated than simple gift giving or retrieval. I'm looking for a particular lost necklace."
>Describe it!
-
>"A friend, kind of. It's a bit more complicated than simple gift giving or retrieval. I'm looking for a particular lost necklace."
>Describe it!
>Rinnosuke listens as you describe Chen's pendant to him. "How long ago did your friend misplace it?"
-
>Did she mention that? Hard to recall that far back. If so, tell him.
-
>Did she mention that? Hard to recall that far back. If so, tell him.
>Chen mentioned 'a couple days ago', which you relate to Rinnosuke. He presses a hand to his chin. "I don't recall taking in a pendant like that in the past few days. It has been fairly busy, though, and I've been told things slip my mind. I could check my books, if you like."
-
>"Please do."
-
>"Please do."
>The man nods and heads behind his counter, on the other side of the statue-like thing, then pauses, looking around. "Oh, right, other side." he mutters, coming back around the counter, comes past the large obstacle, then jumps the counter, rattling the objects upon it and sending a pen rolling to the floor. He has a distinctly sickly sweet smell clinging to him, as well as a cotton candy color scheme. He looks about again, then, "Ah, there it is." he intones, going to his knees and reaching under his counter. "Ah, no, that's the old Sixth Gear collection. .. No, that's the Hogger Daily...." The sound of rustling papers can be heard. "Now, where did I put that ledger...."
-
>Wait for him to find it.
-
>Wait for him to find it.
>The rustling of papers, continues for a minute or two, then you hear a solid *clank*, like flesh on metal. "What's THAT doing down.... Ah, right, the kappas. Eh..." The sound of rolling bottles. The he reaches up and lays a Mystia Lorelai CD on the counter. Followed by a small glass jar filled with a yellowish fluid. And then a book labeled "For the Awesome!" After that, he comes to his feet, a somewhat apologetic smile on his face. "I'm dreadfully sorry, ma'am, this may take a moment or two."
>"If I might interrupt, Rinnosuke." Keine interjects, coming to her feet, a book with a brown cover in her hands. "Is my order ready yet?"
>"Ah, yes, of course, sensei. It's out back, just give me a moment." He jumps the counter again, and heads for the back room.
>"There's no rush..." Keine says quietly, shaking her head. The she regards you. "That pendant you're looking for, Byakuren. Would that be young Chen's?"
-
>"Yes, it would."
-
>"Yes, it would."
>"Does my heart good to see my students helping each other." She gestures to the store around you. "I'm also guessing you haven't been here before?"
-
>"That's right."
-
>"That's right."
>"I've been acquainted with Morichika-san for some time. If you're looking for one thing in particular, you might be better served searching the place yourself. Not everything in here ends up in his books." She chuckles quietly.
-
>"I see. Is there any specific spot such items would be placed, or will I need to go through the entire store?"
-
>"I see. Is there any specific spot such items would be placed, or will I need to go through the entire store?"
>"In my experience, that depends on how a given item gets into the store, or who brings it in." She steps closer, taking a look at the glass jewelery case on the wall behind the counter. "Since it's not in there..." She spares a glance upward at the model eagle hanging overhead, and shrugs slightly. "I've no more idea than you, sorry."
>The white-and-pink shopkeeper emerges then, carrying a small brown paper bag. Keine regards it, and him, evenly. "I trust that candy-cloud of yours stayed out of it?"
>"But of course, madam." Rinnosuke assures her. "I take great care of my customers' special orders. I presume you'll be putting this on your tab?"
>"No, I'll wait till Mokou gets here, then we can settle up. Besides," she adds, dropping a hand on your shoulder. "In the event Byakuren here has to explore your shop, I'll give her a hand."
-
>"Well, let's go have a look around while Rinnosuke does his searching."
-
>"Well, let's go have a look around while Rinnosuke does his searching."
>You and Keine set about searching Kourin-dou for any sign of Chen's missing pendant, while Rinnosuke goes behind his counter again, setting Keine's bag down on the counter, and resuming his search for his ledger. Your search reveals:
>1 kimono, white with purple and blue trim, lily pattern, red and white obi. Would fit you. Probably look good on you, too
>1 set of miko-styled clothes, red and white, with the skirt a fair bit shorter than the norm. Detached sleeves.
>2 sets of wooden sandals, one of which would fit you
>1 boot, brown, size 10
>Jacinth tiger, front paws damaged
>5 bookshelves along the right wall, three crammed with books, one with old VHS, 8-tracks, vinyl albums and a handful of DVDs, one with nothing but manga
>3 magazine racks, full of various magazines and comic books spanning many genres.
>Display table on top of a display table
>Tea set
>Manicure kit
>Bolar hat
>Three bicycles suspended from the ceiling, all in good repair.
>Bamboo Blowgun
>Keine's search evidently has not met with success, and you hear her muttering now and then, sounding irritated. This is actually a bit unusual for her. She isn't the 'muttering' type, in your experience.
>After about 12 minutes, between the legs of a large red dragon model, you find a heart-shaped pendant. Unfortunately, after a moment, you realize that this one is silver, instead of gold. Close, but no cigar.
>"Ah hah!" you hear Rinnosuke exult before you resume your search, as he produces a leather-bound book. "It was in the freezer!" As you ponder the weirdness of that statement, and while Keine mutters that sounds to your ear like, "'bout time..." Rinnosuke opens his book and begins to flip though the pages. "Now, that pendant you were looking for was.... gold?"
-
>That's right."
>Hold up the silver pendant.
>"It looks much like this one, only gold instead of silver."
-
>That's right."
>Hold up the silver pendant.
>"It looks much like this one, only gold instead of silver."
>"Gold, gold...." he mutters as he flicks though pages. "In the past few days...." After a solid couple minutes, he looks up. "No, I'm afraid I see no record of a gold pendant matching that description in the past week." He adjusts his glasses. "I don't recall seeing a gold one of those recently, either. Not since valentine's day."
-
>WHat's today's date?
>How long ago did Chen lose the pendant?
-
>WHat's today's date?
>How long ago did Chen lose the pendant?
>Sunday, November 17th.
>She used the phrase 'a couple days ago', but was no more specific.
-
>"What became of that one?"
-
>"What became of that one?"
>"A young woman was wearing it, as I recall. Said it was a gift from her boyfriend, when she was in here."
-
>Nod.
>"Alright, thank you."
-
"hmm." Keep looking, double check that there are not any parts of the store that we have missed.
-
>Nod.
>"Alright, thank you."
"hmm." Keep looking, double check that there are not any parts of the store that we have missed.
>There are indeed many parts of the store you have missed; you suspect it would take hours to take a complete stock of this place. So, after thanking Rinnosuke, you resume your search. Rinnosuke smiles and nods. "I'm somewhat ashamed to admit, but, it's true; things have been known to appear here that don't show up in my books." He chuckles quietly as he adjusts his glasses. "I once discovered a fairy that had been living in my attic for two weeks, before I noticed."
>Blueprints for a space laserinator
>Alchemic formula: heal jar
>Stuffed wolverine
>Shovel
>Satchel of loam
>Rice cooker
>Lantern, green
>Assorted vehicle parts
>Canine carrying case, blue
>Tuxedo, grey
>Y-box 3200 game system
>Ofuda
>Gold tiara
>Scroll with prismatic markings on it
>Vampire slayer's kit
>Dousing rods
>Assorted music CDs
>Anchor
>Oak jewelery box
>Blown glass figurine of a swan
>Text titled "Emergence of New Youkai, volume 1", by Kana Anaberal
>Certificate of Ownership: Lucretia D'koy
>Green leather choker, with bell. You think Rin would like this.
>After about half an hour's time, you and Keine have searched only about half the store, when the door chime rings again, and Mokou Fujiwara walks in, wearing white and red biker's leathers. You hear Keine snort from behind a selection of clothes, "What kept you?" she growls.
>"Traffic." Mokou replies, running a hand though her long white hair. "Stuck behind some old woman in a Rover for four lights." She gives you and Rinnosuke a nod. "Byakuren. Kourin."
-
>Have a look at that book about New Youkai.
>Nod politely to Mokou and say, "Hello"
>How do we know Mokou again?
-
>Have a look at that book about New Youkai.
>Nod politely to Mokou and say, "Hello"
>How do we know Mokou again?
>Mokou is the gym teacher at Maoyiga High, though she's been known to sub in for other subjects from time to time as well.
>You take the book on New Youkai down from the bookcase. After the events of today new youkai emergence has taken on a whole new meaning for you. Looking closer, there appear to be three volumes in the series present, sandwiched between "How to Manage your Aggro" and "The Last Centaur".
>The foreward claims that this book is a collection of theories put forth on the subject of how non-humans, be they animal or object, become youkai, analysis of said theories by the author and other experts, as well as more personal stories on the subject. You smile at the thought that now you have one of your own stories to add to a book like this.
-
>Skim through the table of contents, see if there is any mention on dealing with newly formed youkai, or what they are like in the beginning.
-
>Skim through the table of contents, see if there is any mention on dealing with newly formed youkai, or what they are like in the beginning.
>The book does not have a chapter by chapter table of contents. Merely an overview of the subject matter. Though it does have a warning before chapter 1 that reads:
>"Newborn Youkai are often unstable and unpredictable, and have been known to lash out with little or no provocation. This is escpecially true of animal-youkai, who retain the basic instincts of their previous life. If you choose to approach a newborn youkai, do so with extreme caution, and never let your guard down."
-
Lets buy it, if its cheep.
We should talk to the center about good books for people in our position in regards to Marigold(sp?).
-
>Check the edition and date to be sure it's reasonably recent, and skim to estimate how much it covers tsukumogami.
-
>Check the edition and date to be sure it's reasonably recent, and skim to estimate how much it covers tsukumogami.
>The publishing date shows this was written and printed two years ago. You then flip through the pages to have a gander to see what information it holds on the subject of tsukumogami. You find this author's writing style to be fairly engaging; informative, intelligent, yet far from dry. You suspect this would be a fairly interesting read, even without your twofold personal engagement with the subject matter.
>You find yourself a little distracted by the somewhat animated conversation between Rinnosuke and your two teachers, but you read enough to see that, apart from a couple of stories told by witnesses of objects ascending, the bulk of the information contained in this book pertains to animals turned youkai. The explanation for this is given in chapter one, and reads as follows:
>"As I was compiling this volume, it dawned on me just how much information there was on this subject matter. Were I to try and encorporate all of this into one volume, it would probably have turned out to be twice as long as Peace and War. Therefore, this volume will focus primarily on those youkai that began life as animals. Subsequent volumes will deal with other forms of youkai in greater detail."
-
Well letts get this anyway, we can stop by the library or book store to get the volume we really want, but unless its being used as a textbook, R-man should be willing to part with it for cheap.
If not he can keep it.
-
>There were other volumes, right? What do they focus on?
-
>There were other volumes, right? What do they focus on?
>There were indeed other volumes; two, to be precise. Your curiosity piqued, you glance at the second volume's foreward, learning that this one will deal primarily with the phenomenon of lifeless objects becoming youkai. Volume three is a bit smaller than the other two, and will deal mostly with humanoid lifeforms transforming into youkai.
>Moving the third volume out reveals a hidden little treasure behind it; a large ring, gold, with a pair of gems inset, one dark blue, one black. This place is just full of surprises. Given the dust on it, it's been back there for some time.
-
>Take the second volume and the ring, and look over them both.
-
>Take the second volume and the ring, and look over them both.
>The tome in your hands has much less dust on it than the ring, so it hasn't been here as long. A flicking through the pages of the book seems to indicate there are many schools of thought as to why this occurs, and the debate in more learned circles has been very fierce at times. The prevailing myth in Yamato is that an object, is held and beloved by an individual for long enough, that affection will cause the ascension phenomenon. Likewise prevalent is the theory of the tsukumogami, an object that was discarded, or otherwise improperly disposed of, and takes on a life of its own to gain a sense of vengeance. While there is little question that this latter, especially, is fact, the book draws attention to several cases where an object was thrown away, became a youkai, and was generally benificent. Several unifying theorys have been put forth, but the author seems to maintain a 'case by case' stance.
>The pricetag on all the first two volumes reads $7.50, while the third reads and even $6. They all appear to be used, but in remarkably good condition.
>The ring is a bit too large for your finger. You would guess it was sized for either a smaller man, or a woman with larger hands than the norm. How it ended up behind these books, you couldn't say, but given the state of the rest of the store, you wouldn't really be surprised if there were one or two more rings hidden behind Rinnosuke's surprisingly interesting collection of books.
-
I'd suggest that we'd take the second one at the time. The others aren't very useful at the moment.
>Return to the counter with the ring.
>"I found this behind one of the books. I assume it got lost?"
-
>Return to the counter with the ring.
>"I found this behind one of the books. I assume it got lost?"
>Setting down the handful of books you'd been juggling, you weave your way back towards the counter to bring the ring to Rinnosuke's attention. You hesitate, however, as he seems to be in the midst of trying to mollify Keine-sensei.
>"I know it seems a lot," he soothes, smiling a friendly smile, "but you DID ask for extra this time. And stronger, too. I had to go outside my usual sources for the materials."
>"Five hundred bucks outside?" Keine snarls.
>"Settle down, KK." Mokou tries to calm her fellow educator. "It's still better than what you'd get from another guy."
-
>Wait for them to finish.
-
>Wait for them to finish.
>"Y'knew it was gonna be more expensive-" Mokou starts, but Keine cuts her off with a wave.
>"Yeah, yeah, I get it, I get it." she snarls again. Keine's been your teacher for three years, and you've never seen her this agitated. Angry, yes, but now she looks like she's about to blow her top. She sticks her finger in Rinnosuke's face, making him take a step backwards. "This time. And do a better job warning me next time."
>"As you wish, ma'am." the shopkeep replies, doing a remarkably good job at keeping his voice level, despite being threatened by a rather angry woman whom you know to be far stronger than she looks. As Keine, still fuming, reaches into her pocket, Rinnosuke steps forward and turns his attention to you. "Now, young lady, you found some...." He trails off, his eyes going wider as they alight upon the ring in your hands. "I haven't.... I thought I'd lost you." His voice is quiet, with an odd note to it, as he asks, "Where did you find this?"
-
>Hold up the book.
>"Behind one of the volumes of this."
-
"Rather, Ironically..your lucky it didn't turn into a youkai with a grudge." Smile to show were joking.
-
>Hold up the book.
>"Behind one of the volumes of this."
"Rather, Ironically..your lucky it didn't turn into a youkai with a grudge." Smile to show were joking.
>He nods slowly, a slow smile showing on his face. He holds his hand out, palm upward. "Give it to me, please."
-
>Do so.
-
>Do so.
>You deposit the ring in his outstretched hand. He draws it in closer, and you swear he looks a little misty eyed. "Thank you, young lady."
-
"You are quite welcome. It seems well loved."
-
"You are quite welcome. It seems well loved."
>"It was. Would you like to hear it's story?"
-
"I would, if you are willing to tell it."
-
"I would, if you are willing to tell it."
>"It can wait." Keine growls menacingly, still looking rather perturbed.
>"Cool your jets, KK." Mokou counters, placing a hand lightly on her shoulder. "I wanna hear it, too." The sight of Mokou being the one to calm Keine is extremely odd. The blue clad teacher snorts like an irate bull, but nods. Rinnosuke gives Mokou a grateful look before returning his eyes to the ring.
>"About 30 years ago, a woman came into my store- my OLD store, I had to move locations 9 years ago- and she showed me this ring. Said she wanted to sell it to help her moving costs, as she was leaving the country. But she seemed very distraught, so I asked her what the problem was. She seemed very reluctant to part with the ring as well, so I asked her about it as well. And the next thing I know, the poor girl falls into my arms, crying like a child that just broke their bike."
>"After she'd calmed down, she told me that it was her engagement ring. Her girlfriend gave it to her before she went off to fight in the war. This was the second Lunar war, by the way, her fiancee was a solider, but before she went away, she proposed to the woman I met, promising to marry her when she returned from her tour of duty. And the young woman... Never came back. She died in the battle of Kamigawa island, like so many other poor souls."
>His voice catches before he continues. "The woman I met moved to Mayoiga after it was rebuilt after the war. Old Mayoiga had been her fiancee's home, she said moving here was her way of staying-" His voice catches again, and he sniffs loudly. "Excuse me." he whispers, producing a handkerchief and dabbing his eyes.
-
>"Mmm. I'm glad I found it, then."
-
>"Mmm. I'm glad I found it, then."
>It takes Rinnosuke a moment to collect himself. "As am I. Like I said, I had to move shop nearly 10 years ago, after a fire in my old place. I lost a fair number of items in the move, let alone the fire itself. I haven't seen that ring since the night of that fire."
>Mokou clears her throat softly. "Gonna finish the story, Kourin?"
>"There isn't much more." Rinnosuke assures her, his voice still rather heavy. "She stayed in the city for as long as she could, but eventually, the memories just got too much for her. So she had to get away, left the country altogether. This was the last thing she had of her old lover's, the last thing she parted with. Even after all that time, I could tell she was still in love. I had hoped that someone would see it here and give it a good home. I'd actually thought it had been destroyed." A breath escapes him that sounds like a laugh. "I couldn't begin to guess how it ended up back there."
-
>"Would she want it anymore?"
-
>"Would she want it anymore?"
>"I don't know. I don't even know where she is, or if she's still alive anymore. This was 30 years ago, you'll recall."
-
>"Well, it's not that long. But yes, I doubt you've had any contact with her."
>Place it on the counter.
-
>"Well, it's not that long. But yes, I doubt you've had any contact with her."
>Place it on the counter.
>The ring is in Rinnosuke's hand.
>"Did you want it, young lady? Surely there must be someone special in your life."
-
>"I probably shouldn't, I think I'm going to need to be careful with my money in the near future."
-
>"I probably shouldn't, I think I'm going to need to be careful with my money in the near future."
>"I see."
>Mokou, however, looks contemplative. "How much?"
>Rinnosuke regards the leather-clad teacher for a moment. "I'm sure we can work something out."
>"What're you up to, Firebird?" Keine asks her coworker in an arch tone, getting a somewhat sideways grin from Mokou. "Trust me." she says simply. Keine looks down, her face still slightly taut with irritation, but the hint of a smile in the corner of her mouth, as she says in a quiet voice, "I hate when you say that."
>Mokou chuckles, dropping her hand on Keine's shoulder. "But I can wait a minute, Kourin." she says, jerking her head in your direction. "I think our helpful treasure hunter here had a book she was after?"
-
>"Yes, I would like this, actually."
>Fetch the second volume of that series.
-
>"Yes, I would like this, actually."
>Fetch the second volume of that series.
>Retrieving volume two of Emergence of new Youkai, you show it to Rinnosuke. "Ahh. An interesting choice. And an interesting read, as well. I presume you have the other volumes already?"
-
"No, but this volume should have what we need."
Not sure why I am being coy..Just feels strange to talk about Marigold with out her here.
-
"No, but this volume should have what we need."
>"I see. However, if you were interested in the other two I have, there's a 20% discount on the set."
-
>"Perhaps I'll take you up on that later, if there's a need for them."
-
>"Perhaps I'll take you up on that later, if there's a need for them."
>Rinnosuke chuckles quietly. "I find there's never a bad time for more books. But, I concede the point." He takes the volume from you, then shuffles towards his register. He pauses before typing in the figure, though, looking at the pair of teachers, who have their own order outstanding as well. Mokou waves her hand. "Go 'head." The shopkeep nods, and rings in your purchase. "Did you want a bag for that, young lady?"
-
Do we have a school bag with us? If so "No thank you.", else "Yes, please."
-
Do we have a school bag with us? If so "No thank you.", else "Yes, please."
>You do not, so you request one. He places the book in a brown paper bag, and tallies up your total. "If that's all I can do for you today... $7.88."
-
>Pay that merchant.
-
>Pay that merchant.
>You produce a tenner and hand it to Rinnosuke, getting a return two dollars and twelve cents. The shopkeep then places a bookmark in the bag along with your new book, and hands it, and your change, to you with a friendly smile. "I hope it proves informative."
-
>"Likewise, thank you."
-
>"Likewise, thank you."
>The merchantman gives you a nod, then turns his attention to Mokou.
>Keine, looking at least marginally calmer, glances at you. "So you found one thing. Still lookin' for that necklace?"
-
>Nod.
>"I am, but I am thinking we're not likely to find it here."
-
>Nod.
>"I am, but I am thinking we're not likely to find it here."
>"'least not today, anyway, place closes in a half hour or so. Then again, you unearthed one piece of hidden jewelery already, might get lucky."
-
>"I may come back and look again, if nothing else turns up. I have a few leads."
-
>"I may come back and look again, if nothing else turns up. I have a few leads."
>"Well, you better get started."
-
Oh hey, look who completely forgot about this during the course of a week's worth of disease and exaggerated sleep disorder!
>"Just so."
>Exit!
-
>"Just so."
>Exit!
>Keine nods shortly, and Rinnosuke takes a moment to bow to you. "I hope to see you again, young lady."
>You then take your leave of the merchant and your teachers, as they return to their business, and depart the store.
>You were in there a bit longer than you'd thought; the sun's gone a long way towards down, a dull gold suffusing the grey of the sky. The sounds of life around this part of town have died down a bit since you want into Kourin-dou.
>The Eagle is in evidence, a little down the road, speaking with a short oni flanked by a statuesque youkai with brown and black wings, in what you think is the language of Bonn. The oni and Eagle shake hands (the oni looking more than a little disdainful of the act, you note) and you hear your winged colleague say, "I'll be in touch."
-
>Let Eagle finish up, then approach.
>"Sorry for the wait. We were combing over the store."
-
>Let Eagle finish up, then approach.
>"Sorry for the wait. We were combing over the store."
>"See that you are." the oni replies in a haughty, harshly accented voice, while tossing her short red hair with her free hand. Disengaging from the Eagle, she turns on her heel and walks down the road in your direction. You have to move to avoid colliding with her shoulder, as she moves with the attitude of one that thinks she owns the whole street. The winged, collared, youkai following her wearing a rather long-suffering expression, gives you an apologetic look as she follows her mistress.
>Eagle chuckles as she pushes off the building wall she'd been leaning against, beating her wings twice, experimentally. "Yeah, y'pretty much have to to find anything in there."
>She gestures with her head towards the bag in your hand. "Found something, I see."
-
>"A book that might give me some insights into Marigold's condition. What was that about?"
>Nod toward the oni.
-
>"A book that might give me some insights into Marigold's condition. What was that about?"
>Nod toward the oni.
>She grins. "Kinda the same thing you hired me for. Now I'm keeping my eye out for somethin' lost by two people." She cups her chin with her hand thoughtfully, then shrugs slightly. "I don't suppose you happened to notice a... rather controversial kind of document while you were in Kourin's, did you?"
>"And what about your kid's condition? I didn't note anythin' wrong with her, beyond not having a name of her own."
-
>"Condition in the sense of how she's going to view the world in general, I mean. Metaphysical condition."
>Did we see any documents like she described?
-
>"It's a book about newborn youkai. This volume deals with youkai born from inanimate objects."
-
>"Condition in the sense of how she's going to view the world in general, I mean. Metaphysical condition."
>Did we see any documents like she described?
>"There's a book on that now?"
>You saw a number of stray papers in that place, as well as a number of esoteric books, but in terms of....
>Actually, there was one that was more out of place than others.
>Certificate of Ownership: Lucretia D'koy.
>That certainly qualifies.
>"It's a book about newborn youkai. This volume deals with youkai born from inanimate objects."
>"Ahhh." She nods sagely. "Lookin' for parenting advice."
-
>Nod.
>"Lucretia D'koy?"
-
>Nod.
>"Lucretia D'koy?"
>She grins again. "'scuse me a minute. That's worth taking a gamble on."
>Without waiting, she moves past you, and into Kourin-dou.
-
>"Mind if I tag along? I am sure he went easy on me, and would love to see him putting forth real effort."
-
>"Mind if I tag along? I am sure he went easy on me, and would love to see him putting forth real effort."
>She pauses at the door, grinning. "Suit y'self, but, I doubt you'll see much."
-
>"You may be surprised."
>Follow!
-
>"You may be surprised."
>Follow!
>You re-enter Rinnosuke's shop a bit sooner than you'd expected, following behind Eagle. You get into the store in time to hear Rinnosuke say, "Here to sell again, miss Nagashima?"
>Eagle seems to be searching for that document. "Not this time, Kourin." She pauses, holding up the gold tiara you found earlier. "You sure it said 'D'koy'?"
-
>"It was a certificate, I believe."
>Point toward where we saw it.
-
>"It was a certificate, I believe."
>Point toward where we saw it.
>"Yeah, that's what she said, all right." Eagle replies, setting the tiara down and heading in the direction you pointed out to her.
>"Looking for something specific, then?" Rinnosuke directs towards Eagle.
>"As a matter of fact..." Eagle trails off, lifting a paint tray and putting it to one side. "I just found it." she declares, lifting the paper in question. She then chuckles, glancing over her shoulder at you. "Woulda been nice if Chen's locket was this easy to come by, eh, Byakuren."
-
>"I'll take what victories we can get."
>Look to Rinnosuke, and say, "How did you come by this item?"
-
>"I'll take what victories we can get."
>Look to Rinnosuke, and say, "How did you come by this item?"
>"I... didn't know it was there. Was is that?" he asks, adjusting his glasses.
>"A certificate of ownership for one pretty little duck youkai, formerly owned by a rather careless rich oni from Bonn. I'm not at liberty to discuss how she lost it, but, as for how it ended up in this place, I have no earthly idea."
>"Nor do I." Rinnosuke intones, his voice taking on a rather dark timbre. "I don't deal in slaves."
>"Well, I'll be happy to take it off your hands, then." Eagle says as she tucks the document inside her jacket. "Get it back to where it belongs."
-
>"How much?"
-
>"How much?"
>Eagle and Rinnosuke exchange a look. They look like neither one knows if you were talking to them, or the other person.
-
>This to Rinnosuke.
>"It's in your shop, is it not? So you'd get to name the price? How much?"
-
>This to Rinnosuke.
>"It's in your shop, is it not? So you'd get to name the price? How much?"
>"Believe me, young lady, I do not want it."
-
>"I'll give you a [dollar equivalent]"
-
>"I'll give you a [dollar equivalent]"
>Yamato uses dollars and cents.
>Rinnosuke holds up his hand. "That won't be necessary."
-
>"It will be. I wish to purchase it legitimately. It is not enough to say I have found it."
-
>"It will be. I wish to purchase it legitimately. It is not enough to say I have found it."
>"Byakuren," Eagle interrupts. "You found it first, but I'm the one holding it. And according to oni law, that means I own it. Especially since Rinnosuke here put aside any claim of ownership." She draws in a breath, then nods to Rinnosuke. "You're a man of principals. I respect that."
>Rinnosuke bows simply in reply.
-
>"It is as you say, I suppose."
>Frown, and ponder for a moment before saying, "What was the nature of the agreement?"
-
>"It is as you say, I suppose."
>Frown, and ponder for a moment before saying, "What was the nature of the agreement?"
>She nods. And from your own expertise in oni law, you know it to be true.
>"You mean my agreement with the princess?"
-
>Nod.
>Start to leave the store, if she seems to be done.
-
>Nod.
>Start to leave the store, if she seems to be done.
>"Well, it's funny you mention," she says, moving to follow you. "This paper here wasn't even part of our deal, was just something she mentioned in passing. I figured I'd ask if you found it here for a laugh." She opens the door for you. "Never imagined it'd actually BE here."
-
>"I figured. I assume this is what she uses to claim ownership over that youkai?"
-
>"I figured. I assume this is what she uses to claim ownership over that youkai?"
>"In the same way you have a paper that gives you ownership of Rin Kaenbyou."
-
>Nod.
>Did we recognize her client? And if so, what do we know about her?
>"How did she lose it?"
-
>Nod.
>Did we recognize her client? And if so, what do we know about her?
>"How did she lose it?"
>Neither the oni, nor her companion, was familiar to you. The oni speaks Bonn, and according to Eagle is native to that country, and she seemed to carry herself with a massive ego.
>"She didn't say, specifically." she emits a small chuckle. "I got the impression it was a source of embarrassment for her."
-
>"Perhaps she lost it as part of a wager?"
-
>"Perhaps she lost it as part of a wager?"
>"I'd buy that."
>The two of you have returned to the street.
>"Most oni I know, pretty shrewd customers. That one? Not so much."
-
>"Tell me about her?"
-
>"Tell me about her?"
>She shrugs. "Well, it ain't like we're tight. That's the first time I ever met her myself, so, alls I got is my first impression."
-
>Nod.
>"Back to the original question, did you offer to get it back to her or just to find it?"
-
>Nod.
>"Back to the original question, did you offer to get it back to her or just to find it?"
>"Neither, actually. See, she came to me for an unrelated matter, and during the conversation, I discerned that she'd misplaced her slave's paper. I've learned how to read people."
-
>"My, you are good. What was the matter she wanted?"
-
>"My, you are good. What was the matter she wanted?"
>"I've had to be. And, I'm afraid that's between her and me. Nothing personal, but the matter's... a little sensitive."
-
>Nod. "I can respect that. Just, well, you know my thoughts on keeping slaves, I'm sure."
-
>Nod. "I can respect that. Just, well, you know my thoughts on keeping slaves, I'm sure."
>She smiles and nods. "Only reason you got one of your own is for her own sake, not yours."
>"But that makes a bird curious. Does that mean you'd do it again? Challenge another oni for a slave, to make their life better?"
-
>"I have another idea, this time. Rather than challenge the oni to turn over the slave, I intend to challenge her to free the slave, and keep her free. But if needs be, I can do the same thing again."
-
>"I have another idea, this time. Rather than challenge the oni to turn over the slave, I intend to challenge her to free the slave, and keep her free. But if needs be, I can do the same thing again."
>"You'd pretty much have to. Keep a slave free... It don't work that way, not under oni law. There'd be nothing stopping someone else from coming along and claiming the slave, oni or otherwise." Eagle points across the street, to where a pair of trio of small children are playing hopscotch on the sidewalk. "One of those kids could claim a slave that gets turned loose by its owner. Or someone that's even worse than the guy you're challenging."
>"Actually...." She trails off, her face the face of a woman whose gears are really turning now.
-
>"I know, and I think you see what I am planning. I hope to make the issue a challenge. It's one thing to keep a slave, yes. But, it's another thing to set a slave free, and declare she will stay free or else. It would be putting one's name on the line, for certain, but if you can do it successfully, and fend off all interested challengers... Well, I imagine one would make quite a name for herself. Wouldn't you agree? We make the claimed person's freedom a matter of honor, rather than keeping them."
-
>"I know, and I think you see what I am planning. I hope to make the issue a challenge. It's one thing to keep a slave, yes. But, it's another thing to set a slave free, and declare she will stay free or else. It would be putting one's name on the line, for certain, but if you can do it successfully, and fend off all interested challengers... Well, I imagine one would make quite a name for herself. Wouldn't you agree? We make the claimed person's freedom a matter of honor, rather than keeping them."
>"Well, it might work on oni- some oni, anyway- but what about humans? Or youkai, for that matter, they don't have the same sense of pride and honor that your average oni does."
-
>"We'd have to use a different approach with them, honestly. But in particular, I am interested in influencing oni with this. It would be nice to encourage a change in cultural thinking in that regard."
>How common is slave-taking in non-oni cultures?
-
>"We'd have to use a different approach with them, honestly. But in particular, I am interested in influencing oni with this. It would be nice to encourage a change in cultural thinking in that regard."
>How common is slave-taking in non-oni cultures?
>The Eagle's grin is very amused. "You honestly think you can change a facet of oni culture that goes back millenia?"
>Very, very rare. To your knowledge, nearly every human and youkai that owns a slave acquired it from an oni, through means legal or otherwise. Taking slaves is legally permitted only among the oni, but of course, this does not mean humans and youkai don't DO it. Tengu and Kappa, however, do not. It is against their laws, and their nature.
-
>"Anything can be changed. It's merely a matter of finding the right time and the right method."
-
>"It's just the trick of starting something that will last more millenia than that, in the end."
-
>"Anything can be changed. It's merely a matter of finding the right time and the right method."
>"It's just the trick of starting something that will last more millenia than that, in the end."
>She speaks in a still-amused, yet softer, voice, "You're one hell of a dreamer, Byakuren."
-
>"Perhaps, but I expect The Buddha was want nothing less of us."
-
>"Perhaps, but I expect The Buddha was want nothing less of us."
>"If you say so. Buddhism ain't something I know that much about."
-
>"I imagine you don't feel like being preached to, so we'll just leave with this: If there's potential for greater harmony, it is worth trying."
-
>"I imagine you don't feel like being preached to, so we'll just leave with this: If there's potential for greater harmony, it is worth trying."
>"You're a dreamer, all right, Byakuren. But in a good way."
>"But... Since I know you're willing to liberate the unfortunate from masters that don't deserve em, I've had an idea of my own. If you're interested."
-
>"Please do. And, where was our next stop?"
-
>"Please do. And, where was our next stop?"
>"Ran's is fairly close to here. 's a bit of a longshot, but, I've got senses and instincts her people don't. Maybe they missed something."
>You both have actually been drifting down the street in that general direction, since you left Kourin-dou. Slowly, casually, but in that direction.
>"Say you run across another master with an unhappy slave. Say you challenge the guy. Say you win. That leaves you in possession of a slave that needs a good home. We can FIND good homes for those slaves. With good people, people that treat slaves right. People like you."
-
>"It's an idea, but that doesn't really solve the problem of lost freedom, or the tradition behind it. But, it would help in the transition."
-
>"It's an idea, but that doesn't really solve the problem of lost freedom, or the tradition behind it. But, it would help in the transition."
>"I'm not as big a dreamer as you, ain't trying to change an entire species view on a subject. But you and I both know oni law. Once a slave has been owned by the same owner for ten years, either they're freed and gain their freedom permanently. Or their own adopts them, and they have a family. Okay yeah, it ain't gonna do much to acheive that dream of yours, but it'll help the individuals here and now."
>"And of course, there's benefit for you and me, too."
-
>"This is true. But I'm also not interested in benefiting from it."
-
>"This is true. But I'm also not interested in benefiting from it."
>"A girl still has to get by in the world, Byakuren. I know, you probably think 'doing good is it's own reward', but, that doesn't mean you can look for a little something on top of that, now, does it?"
-
>"I have no interest in taking more than the oni or the slaves. It would cheapen the deed. I can get by in other ways."
-
>"I have no interest in taking more than the oni or the slaves. It would cheapen the deed. I can get by in other ways."
>"All right, suit yourself." the Eagle replies, holding her hands up in front of her. "Personally, I think you're wasting an opportunity, but, that's your code. You didn't preach at me, so, I'll extend you the same courtesy. Fair is fair."
-
>Nod. "No worries about it. For now, let's focus on the task at hand. And perhaps the best way to convince our oni friend that a truly strong person selects emancipation."
-
>Nod. "No worries about it. For now, let's focus on the task at hand. And perhaps the best way to convince our oni friend that a truly strong person selects emancipation."
>The two of you pause at a set of streetlights.
>"Just one last question on the matter, if you don't mind. In the event that me, or one of my Manari sisters, ever ends up in a similar position to yours, would you mind if one of us looks you up, for a character reference? I think you associate with better people than we do, in general, people that would make better masters."
-
>"Maybe. I am hesitant about just passing out slave certificates for a number of reasons, I don't know how many people are willing to take the risk than an oni might challenge them for it."
-
>"Maybe. I am hesitant about just passing out slave certificates for a number of reasons, I don't know how many people are willing to take the risk than an oni might challenge them for it."
>She nods in agreement. "Fair point. That's a pretty big risk, too, depending on the oni in question. I know a few that're a lot less patient, shall we say, than the one you beat. I myself have come out on the wrong end of an argument with an oni, just once, but that was enough. I sure ain't about to blame anyone for not wanting to take that particular risk."
-
>"Still, it's something to keep in mind."
-
>"Still, it's something to keep in mind."
>"That's all I ask."
-
>Nod.
>Proceed!
-
>Nod.
>Proceed!
>Eagle's ideas attended to, you accelerate your pace towards the jewel shop. There's not a great deal of distance left to cover, Kourin's being within fairly convenient walking distance from the prestigious jewelers. and sure enough, after a handful of minutes, the store comes within sight.
>This being a sunday near sundown, the sidewalks and streets are mostly bare, save the occasional car probably containing someone going home from work.
>As soon as you lay eyes on the entrance to Ran's, however, you have a sense that something is wrong.
-
>Take a moment to try to figure out what feels wrong.
-
>Take a moment to try to figure out what feels wrong.
>The building itself seems to be exuding a foul aura, especially around the doors, but around the windows as well, to a lesser extent.
>Taking a moment to concentrate, you feel a cold shudder run down your spine. It feels disturbingly identical to the feel of the air around the yellow-skinned youkai, and the bat that confronted you after you beat it.
-
>Hold out a hand to stop Eagle. Or if she is ahead of us, put a hand on her shoulder.
>"I need you to trust me for a little while."
-
>"It would seem that my fears were justified. I can already tell; we've run in to exactly what I was worried about. Stay behind me."
>Call Lily.
-
>"It would seem that my fears were justified. I can already tell; we've run in to exactly what I was worried about. Stay behind me."
>Call Lily.
>Rather than this. say, "You may remember when I predicted that Marigold was going was come. This is a similar situation. I need you to leave. Go a few blocks and wait for me."
>If she complies, call Lily.
-
>No. Keep her with us. We don't want her on her own. That would make her too inviting a target.
-
We're a more inviting target. If she leaves, she has a chance not to get caught up in things. If she stays, she is definitely caught up, we have to worry about friendly fire, and hostage situations. Best to get her out of the war zone and play the odds; better 50% than 75%; we know there's something in there, we only suspect there is something a few blocks away.
-
The enemy will no doubt recognize us, and may well target the Eagle to get at us. My plan is to wait with her until Lily arrives, then have Lily take her away and protect her while we go in.
-
That would be a good plan, but Lily's in another part of town, I'm pretty sure. By the time she gets here, it may be too late. to do whatever objective we need to achieve. Better to send Eagle off, alert Lily, then act before any harm can be done.
-
Let's call Lily first and see how long it'll take her to get here. If it'll take a while, we'll go with your plan.
>"Hold on, please, Eagle. I need to make a call."
>Call Lily.
-
Good idea.
-
>"Hold on, please, Eagle. I need to make a call."
>Call Lily.
>The Eagle pauses in her tracks. "Aight, but, I can get a head start while ya do. Was gonna check the alley first."
>You produce your cell phone and dial Lily's number. After four and a half rings, the chipper blonde answers. "Hellolo~"
-
>Look to Eagle while ringing. "Don't. Stay with me."
>Once Lily picks up, "Lily, this is important, where are you?"
Problem with the idea: Lily is likely going to have to bring Marigold, unless they're already at the center.
-
>Look to Eagle while ringing. "Don't. Stay with me."
>Once Lily picks up, "Lily, this is important, where are you?"
>The winged woman quirks an eyebrow. Then she looks around the area. "What's got you spooked?"
>"At the CRA. Why?"
-
>How far is that from here? How quickly do we think Lily could be here?
-
>How far is that from here? How quickly do we think Lily could be here?
>You're not actually sure where the CRA office here in town is. You've never had cause to go there before.
-
>"I'm at Ran's, and there's a... situation. A you-and-me kind of situation. How long would it take you to get here?"
-
>And in where here actually is.
-
>"I'm at Ran's, and there's a... situation. A you-and-me kind of situation. How long would it take you to get here?"
>And in where here actually is.
>Lily takes a moment or two to answer.
>"Uh.... Sunday... schedules.... Might take an hour, give or take. But, uh... I'm not sure I should leave, right now."
-
So, we wait, and probably let things metastasize, or we try to deal with the problem ourself and possibly risk Eagle.
I prefer the latter, myself. We can send Eagle away and hope, and rescue her if needs be. But if we let this go, the past has suggested it'll quickly become a problem to everyone.
-
An hour's quite a while, so yes, let's move now. I still think it's safer for Eagle if she's with us; yes, we know there'll be danger, but we also know we'll be there to protect her. But whatever.
>"An hour's too long, anyways. There's no telling what could happen in that time. I'm going in now. I'll handle this, and I'll let you know as soon as I have. Bye."
>Hang up.
>Where's a good place nearby for Eagle to wait? If we don't know, ask her.
-
>"An hour's too long, anyways. There's no telling what could happen in that time. I'm going in now. I'll handle this, and I'll let you know as soon as I have. Bye."
>Hang up.
>Where's a good place nearby for Eagle to wait? If we don't know, ask her.
>Terminating your conversation with Lily, you turn your attention to the question of what to do with Eagle while you deal with whatever new danger awaits you with Ran's.
>The handful of people on the street appear unconcerned, or unconscious, of your sense. Eagle might not have noticed anything either, but between your remarks to her, and your abbreviated conversation with your ally, she's definately giving you the eye.
>The malicious aura seems localized entirely within Ran's, not extending to the exterior at all, to the best of your recollection. Assuming whatever's inside the jewelers stays in there, Eagle should be safe anywhere outside.
-
>"Eagle, I need you to wait a few blocks away. Things...just trust me, please. This is like how I knew that Marigold was about to be born."
-
>"Eagle, I need you to wait a few blocks away. Things...just trust me, please. This is like how I knew that Marigold was about to be born."
>The Eagle folds her arms across her chest, one eyebrow firmly raised.
>"If you'll recall, I was the one the pointed out the fact that the ring was glowing to you. And I don't see no glowing rings 'round here now."
-
>"I have. It's in the store, the whole store. Just trust me, please. You know I wouldn't ask this of you without a good reason."
-
>"I have. It's in the store, the whole store. Just trust me, please. You know I wouldn't ask this of you without a good reason."
>The youkai gives you an appraising look, taking a seemingly agonizingly long time. "But this isn't like Marigold. It's more dangerous. This is that danger you think you can handle but I can't." She looks towards the store's entrance, it's illuminated open sign. She gestures towards the empty alley next to the store. "Mind if I work on my task while you work on yours?"
-
>Nod.
>"Meet me back at the bus stop. Or if I can't be there, I'll call you."
>Collect Eagle's digits, if we hain't already. No Mamis >=[
-
>Nod.
>"Meet me back at the bus stop. Or if I can't be there, I'll call you."
>Collect Eagle's digits, if we hain't already. No Mamis >=[
>The Eagle has no cell phone, and no digits to collect, for the next several months. And reminds you of this.
>"Bus stop works. Or hey, never know, could take no time, and I'll still be in that alley." She then lets her grin fall away, and gives you a serious look. "I don't know what this is, Byakuren, but I know how serious you're taking it. So I'll just say, good luck. And if I see Kiku, because I know she's following us, I'll tell her to stay out of your affair, too."
-
>"Thank you."
>Take a moment to ready ourselves, then enter.
-
>"Thank you."
>Take a moment to ready ourselves, then enter.
>While the Eagle goes around to do her thing in the alley by the building, you turn your attention to the building itself.
>Placing your hand upon the door, you feel a wave of repulsion wash over you. The aura you sense seems to be a barrier of some sort. But whatever it's true nature and purpose, it doesn't seem to be strong enough to actually block your entry. So you push the door open, expecting to find trouble within.
>You are not dissapointed. When you were here earlier today, it was pleasantly warm in here; this time, there's an unearthly chill in the air. And the sounds of battle overhead.
>There are six-foot tall heart-shaped... coffins, you'd call them, scattered across the sales floor, all upright, each with what appears to be a gauge of some sort on the front. You're not sure what this indicates.
>Some of the sales cases on the floor up the stairs in front of you have been broken, their contents on the floor around you.
>Crouching down in front of the counter near the entrance, for cover, is the aging oni, Doubles, you spoke with earlier. Except this time, he has a gun in his hand. He pops up over the counter to fire off a couple of shots at the monstrous figure in the air above him, ducking back down to avoid the blast of yellow energy the thing fires back at him.
>Said figure is another yellow-skinned figure, but this one has a shock of orange hair, spiked, on its head, as well as what appears to be fun on his arms and legs. It wears a short blue sundress, and its fingers and toes end in jagged claws. An ugly, black heart-shaped necklace is draped about her neck, and wispy tendrils of green energy trail from the coffin-things into this necklace. And it is taking fire not only from the pistol-wielding oni, but from a woman wearing a nice business suit, with ten fluffy tails, floating in midair several feet away from the youma. And currently throwing balls of energy at the thing. Both her blasts, and Doubles' ammo, dissipate against a screen of yellowish energy before the youma.
>"Human weapons are as useless against me as you are, youkai." it taunts the kitsune in a voice that screeches like a cat getting its' tail stepped on.
-
>No time to get them away before changing. Try to step out of sight, though.
>Transformation sequence go!
-
>No time to get them away before changing. Try to step out of sight, though.
>Transformation sequence go!
>Hoping the three active figures keep their attentions focused on each other, you take a few steps to one side, and invoke the phrase, "Lotus Purity Ascension". In a swirl of light, Byakuren Hijiri transforms in Magical Lotus, Hero of the Heart!
-
>Can we sense anything new immediately?
-
>Can we sense anything new immediately?
>As a matter of fact, you can. It takes a moment to place, but you have a distinct impression that giant of a man you passed outside Ran's some hours ago is inside this building. But you can't quite place where at the moment.
>You also have a sense of imminent impending danger, and you hear Doubles yell "Get down, ya fool!"
-
>Down!
>Presuming we still have the option, while down, have a better look at those caskets.
-
>Down!
>Presuming we still have the option, while down, have a better look at those caskets.
>You dive forward and to the side, just as a ray of cold blue energy strikes the floor where you stood seconds ago.
>"Quick for a human." the youma screeches. "For all the good it will do you."
>Glancing at the nearest coffin, which is where one of the security officers stood before, you discern that these coffins do have seams, where they might be opened, but they appear to have been fused shut. The gauge on the front of the coffin seems to be depleting slowly.
>"Get outta here while ya can, girlie!" Doubles yells at you again, opening fire again. The sounds of gunfire sound so much louder in person than on TV...
-
>What is the youma doing? Take a moment to scruntize it.
>"Get out of here, Doubles! You aren't able to deal with this like I can!"
-
>What is the youma doing? Take a moment to scruntize it.
>"Get out of here, Doubles! You aren't able to deal with this like I can!"
>At the moment, it is dogfighting with Ran again. The kitsune's energy blasts don't appear to be doing much against the youma's energy field, but the youma's return fire is equally ineffective, as Ran proves more nimble than the business suit would imply. "Your resistance is pointless, youkai! You lack the will to harm this body, and your pet oni is useless."
>"That's what you think..." you hear Doubles mutter as he reaches into this coat.
>Your furthur scrutiny of the youma reveals a 'core' in its chest, similar to the one that the last youma had. However, this core is obscured, concealed and protected by a dense black energy.
>"Dunno how you know me name, girlie, but I'm not yer average oni." He ejects the magazine from his pistol and withdraws a red-colored one from his pocket. "Haven't used these in a lotta years...." he mutters again as he slides the clip home. Standing, he takes aim at the youma again, its back turned fully to him. "Suck on this!" He fires again, but this time, the bullet sparks in the air, and makes contact with the youma's skin, exploding on impact in a cloud of red dust. The youma shudders visibly.
-
>Recall what sorts of abilites we had uncovered to date.
-
>Recall what sorts of abilites we had uncovered to date.
>Offensive abilities, or supernatural abilities in general?
-
>Both.
-
>Both.
>You have demonstated the ability to see beneath the skin of the youma creatures, to see the core of their being. It is unclear why you were able to see more details about the ring-youma than you can see in this one.
>You had a similar experience when your ring was in contact with the ring worn by Lily White, although that contact was much more intimate. You see could see everything about her, and she of you. And the two of you came away temporarily changed, as well. You seemed to carry a sense of the joy in Lily's heart for a while, and Lily herself seemed more composed, peaceful, like she picked up a sense of your inner strength and focus.
>In order to purify the object corrupted into the youma you fought days ago, you employed an ability called "Violet Lotus: Realization of the Wandering." This took the form a lavender-colored beam of light fired from the tip of your scepter. The doll you spoke with seemed to think that this power, to remove the corruption from an object without destroying it in the process, was unique to you.
>You have gained a sense of the supernatural forces around you, such as the aura of age and wisdom you detected when in the woods of the Metal Tiger, as well as the oddly familiar sensation you picked up on when you bumped into that tall man on the street hours ago. This sense is how you knew something was wrong here, as well.
-
>"Hurting it is only going to make it worse, Mr. Doubles! Just get out of here and let me handle it!"
-
>"Hurting it is only going to make it worse, Mr. Doubles! Just get out of here and let me handle it!"
>"Ah'm goin' nowhere until everyone here's back to normal an' that thing's beaten. And no young girl's gonna tell me t'run away from a fight. Ah didn't run from these beasties the last time I met em, not gonna do it this time." He fires again, but this his bullet is intercepted by an answering burst of energy from the youkai, and it follows up by launching a heart-shaped blast of black energy from its pendant. The aging oni fires two shots into the black heart, but while both bullets explode against the thing, it neither slows nor dissipates.
>"Bloody hell...." he whispers.
-
>"It'll be alright."
>Contemplate the caskets, which is closest, and which seems to have the lowest gauge?
-
>"It'll be alright."
>Contemplate the caskets, which is closest, and which seems to have the lowest gauge?
>"I hope you're RIGHT!" he yelps, desperately diving down and sideways to avoid the youma's attack, which casts off murky energy, like polluted water, when it touches the ground, leaving a black stain on the store floor.
The youma then spins and launches a volley of shots at Ran, who deflects the ones that would have hit her with her tails, each of which give off a light glow.
>The closest casket to you is only a couple feet away from you. None of the gauges you can see go any lower than slightly more than half full, most not even that far down, but there are some which do not have their gauges aimed at you.
-
>Throw open the casket.
-
>Throw open the casket.
>You come to your feet and attempt to open that casket. As you noted earlier, however, it is firmly sealed, and easily resists your efforts.
-
>Reminder: Do we have a wand or scepter?
-
>Reminder: Do we have a wand or scepter?
>You had a scepter during your first encounter. One that ended in a stylized lotus. The exact same lotus that is your hairpin. And it is putting out the same energy aura that the scepter was.
-
>Take off the hairpin, and see if we can manifest a sceptre out of it.
>If so, jam it right into that trail of energy linking the coffin to the Youma.
-
>Take off the hairpin, and see if we can manifest a sceptre out of it.
>If so, jam it right into that trail of energy linking the coffin to the Youma.
>You reach up and take the hairpin off your head. It doesn't take more than a stray thought to make the thing start glowing, transforming it into the scepter you held before.
>The violet baton firmly in your hand, you stab it forward into the wispy energy trail linking the youma's pendant with the coffin. The trail dissapears with an audible SNAP.
-
>Does this seem to have affected the coffin or the youma?
-
>Does this seem to have affected the coffin or the youma?
>The gauge on the coffin is no longer going down.
>The youma, however, has a more vocal reaction. It fixes its orange eyes on you. "How did you do that, human?"
>Doubles, loading a blue cartridge into his pistol, has a similar reaction. "How'd ye do that, lass?"
-
>"I told you to get out of here!"
>Dash for the next closest one.
-
>"I told you to get out of here!"
>Dash for the next closest one.
>"And I told you, I'm goin' nowhere, girlie." He gets back to one knee. "'s only one girl in this world younger than me gives me orders, and you ain't her."
>The next nearest coffin is at the top of the stairs in front of you, and you make a beeline for it. The youma, however, isn't about to let you disrupt its efforts again, and points its hands at you. Its nails detach from its fingers and fire towards you.
-
>Are we in the position to determine if they are aimed at where we are now, or where we are going to do? That is, if we keep moving forward, will they pass behind us?
>If not, are the close enough together to bat out of the air with our scepter? If so, proceed with that.
-
>When we fought the first youma, we somehow knew how to transform, and how to use our purification ability. Is anything like that happening now?
-
Ooo, good one.
-
>When we fought the first youma, we somehow knew how to transform, and how to use our purification ability. Is anything like that happening now?
>You retain the knowledge of how to use the abilities you demonstrated during your first battle. Although with the incoming projectiles, a thought IS coming into your mind...
>Are we in the position to determine if they are aimed at where we are now, or where we are going to do? That is, if we keep moving forward, will they pass behind us?
>If not, are the close enough together to bat out of the air with our scepter? If so, proceed with that.
>You would guess that the youma is shooting where you are now, rather than where you are going to be. However, the projectiles are moving rather quickly, so you will have to either duck or dive to evade them with certainty.
>Deflecting them with your scepter is also and option, and this thought brings one of those aforementioned insights to your mind: If you can use the light within you to purify, why not to defend as well?
>In response to this thought, the scepter glows with a pale blue light, and as you stop and swing it forward, a thin, translucent 'veil' of blue light shimmers into being before you. The nails hit this screen and dissipate against it harmlessly.
-
>Keep moving for that casket!
-
>Keep moving for that casket!
>The youma's attack thwarted, you continue up the stairs towards the next closest casket. This one's gauge is approximately 75% full, now that you can see it.
>Doubles looks at you with only a small amount of surprise on his face. "Ye be a sorceress?"
-
>"Close enough!"
>Sceptre that energy!
-
>"Close enough!"
>Sceptre that energy!
>With a witty retort to the aging oni, you swipe this energy trail with your scepter. Like the one before, this one snaps and vanishes, stopping the drop of the gauge.
>This time, however, the youma's response is not with words, but with action. A blast of energy from the beast catches you full in the side, sending you tumbling back down the stairs you climbed head over heels. OW!
>""That's enough of THAT, little human." the youma screeches.
-
>How screwed up are we by that?
>How often have we been knocked down and had to get back up again?
-
>How screwed up are we by that?
>How often have we been knocked down and had to get back up again?
>Getting an energy blast to the side was certainly no picnic, and neither was that little tumble. But, surprisingly, neither one seems to have caused any detectible damage, in terms of broken bones, at least. Your side is throbbing like you just ate a dropkick from the entire wrestling team, but you don't think anything's broken. Your movement will likely not be impeded, but you really don't want to absorb any more of those attacks any time soon. You also bumped your head a time or two, but this actually hasn't seemed to result in anything more than a mild headache, and the cobwebs are already clearing.
>Prior to today, the only other major physical conflict you'd ever been involved in was that scrap you had with the first youma.
-
>Try to get back up, keep an eye on the youma.
-
>Do we have any means of attack other than the purity beam?
-
>Do we have any means of attack other than the purity beam?
>At the moment, that is the only form of ranged combat you have a sense of. Your scepter has proven to be effective at severing the ties between the youma and the coffins, so it's possible it would be effective against the youma itself, as well.
>Try to get back up, keep an eye on the youma.
>With your free hand pressed to your side, you return to your feet, admitting only to a short grunt of effort.
>"Now I recognize you." the youma screeches, as it descends from the air to land near the top of stairs. Doubles, you note, scrabbles around the counter, keeping it between him and the youma. "You're that human that destroyed the first youma I created."
-
>Contemplate saying not quite and that's she's still around, in a sense, then decide against it. No need to make Marigold a target.
>"That was your work? How did you do it?"
>Stay ready to dodge, or toss up another shield. Analyze how the youma and the others are doing.
-
>Contemplate saying not quite and that's she's still around, in a sense, then decide against it. No need to make Marigold a target.
>"That was your work? How did you do it?"
>Stay ready to dodge, or toss up another shield. Analyze how the youma and the others are doing.
>Keeping Marigold's existence to yourself, you pose a question to the being before you.
>"The same way I created this one."
>Keeping one eye focused on the youma above you, you glance around to check on the other two humanoids present, that being Doubles and Ran. Doubles has dissapeared around the counter. Given his attitude, you wouldn't be surprised if he was getting in position to launch a sneak attack against the youma. Ran has also halted her attack, and has descended to the store's floor, some distance behind the youma. Her suit is torn, burned, but her face expresses a profound sense of worry. The youma, on the other hand, shows almost no damage at all, though you know there's at least some damage to its back, from where Doubles shot it with that explosive bullet of his.
>"The items in this world are much softer than ours. Much easier to manipulate." the youma continues, her voice almost as painful to listen to as getting blasted was. "Soon I'll have no restrictions in making my weapons. Not that I'll need many more. You defeated the last one, human, but not this time. This one is better made."
-
>We can endure a voice, talking means she is not killing.
>"Why do you do this thing?"
-
>We can endure a voice, talking means she is not killing.
>"Why do you do this thing?"
>It's hard to read the expression on the youma's face, but you think your question amuses it. "You are human. You couldn't understand."
-
>"Does this imply the opposite is true?"
-
>"Does this imply the opposite is true?"
>The youkai takes a solid few seconds to reply. "Speak plainly, human."
-
>"If I cannot understand you, does this mean that you cannot understand me?"
-
>"If I cannot understand you, does this mean that you cannot understand me?"
>"You are human. I am demon." it states, as though that explains everything.
>"You make no sense, human. Futile though your resistance is, you have power enough to fight my weapons. Why do you bother with this? I have my purpose, you have yours."
-
>"And what is my purpose?"
-
>"And what is my purpose?"
>"You are here. Your purpose is to destroy me, and save your own world."
-
>"Somewhat. My purpose is indeed to save my world. But, I have no interest in destroying you, this wouldn't serve either world."
-
>"Somewhat. My purpose is indeed to save my world. But, I have no interest in destroying you, this wouldn't serve either world."
>"If you do not intend to destroy us, how do you plan to save your world from us?"
-
>"I would make it unnecessary for you to destroy it to begin with. You have your home, and we have our own. Is there an objective reason we cannot live in harmony as neighbors? Is there no reason we cannot mingle freely and peacefully, enriching each other?"
-
>"I would make it unnecessary for you to destroy it to begin with. You have your home, and we have our own. Is there an objective reason we cannot live in harmony as neighbors? Is there no reason we cannot mingle freely and peacefully, enriching each other?"
>"You and your people have forgotten us. What we are. We are demons. We could no more coexist with you than we could the celestials. We do not want to coexist with you. We want your world. This time, human, it ends in our destruction, or yours."
>"Then yours it'll be!" the voice of Doubles rings out, punctuated by a pistol report. The youma is encased in a block of ice.
>The old man steps out from behind the counter he'd been hiding behind and steps casually around the ice blocked-youma. "Never turn yer back on your enemy." He then salutes you with his pistol. "Thanks for the distraction, little witch."
-
>Sigh.
>"You've only made my job much more difficult, I'm afraid."
>Glance toward the coffins. How are they doing?
-
>Sigh.
>"You've only made my job much more difficult, I'm afraid."
>Glance toward the coffins. How are they doing?
>And just when you had a chance to speak the enemy, too. It's hard to tell how much, if any, effect you were having, but at least you were trying.
>The coffins, every one, is unchanged. That's a bit odd, if the oni has destroyed the youma....
>"Wha, you'd prefer a moving target?" he grins at you, holstering his pistol. How the hell did an oni get bullets like that, anyway?
-
>"I suppose not, but I was not lying. Let's set that aside for now. Are there any people in those caskets?"
-
>"I suppose not, but I was not lying. Let's set that aside for now. Are there any people in those caskets?"
>"Aye." He raps his knuckle against the entombed youma. "Bloody beastie trapped the customers and staff in the damn things. They're even grenade-proof. Which reminds me." He reaches into this jacket pocket again, and produces a neon orange grenade. "That ice isn't goin' to last forever. You wanna finish it off?"
-
>"I have no intention of finishing it off, Mr Doubles."
>Is there still energy connecting it to the caskets? If so, walk around and cut them with our sceptre.
>"But I do intend to finish this. Shedding blood gives a short term solution for a longer term problem. For now, try to help these people out of here, and keep others from wandering in. This one will not defeat me."
Edit: What we've learned
-It's willing to talk with us. This is significant! Even if it's just to idly boast, that tells us things about who we're dealing with. Any desire to communicate is good. We can use that to learn more about it to find weak points to ply against it in our efforts to buddhist it up, and about the enemy in general.
-Moreover, it was willing to stop trying to wail on us during the process. Meaning either it can't talk and shoot, or it didn't feel like it.
-Doubles has some 'splainin' to do, later on.
-We might be able to use Marigold as example that a weapon can live. Or, we can challenge it that even this weapon can live normally, and purify it. I don't like the idea of using Marigold as a bargaining chip at all, but as a last ditch it may work.
-Realistically, we're going to have to put ourself in its trust at some point if we're going to Buddhist it into flying straight. We are going to have to put ourselves at consider risk. Which may or may not involve disarming, and walking straight into its clutches. It'll be something to be prepared for, but we can manipulate that expectation to be to our advantage if we take control of the situation. The idea here is that we have to stay on the verbal offensive, and challenge its assumptions. Keep it on its toes. Make it doubt.
I think we can pull it off, and win us a demon buddy. If it's good enough for Siddhartha, it's good enough for us.
-
>"I have no intention of finishing it off, Mr Doubles."
>Is there still energy connecting it to the caskets? If so, walk around and cut them with our sceptre.
>"But I do intend to finish this. Shedding blood gives a short term solution for a longer term problem. For now, try to help these people out of here, and keep others from wandering in. This one will not defeat me."
>The wispy streams of energy are still flowing into the youma's pendant. The ice seems to be not much of an impediment to its influence over its energy draining ability.
>As you turn your attention to the coffins, climbing the stairs and walking past the oni and his seemingly temporarily-debilitated opponent, you take stock of the situation. You'd count at least a dozen coffins in evidence, not counting the two you'd already broken the connection on. Ran has made her way to one, and appears to be trying to wedge the thing open with a crowbar. She is having little obvious success.
>"You're right about that." the old man states as you cut the energy stream on a third casket. "You might want to cover your ears; this thing don't harm flesh, but it's plenty loud."
>"O'Donnell..." Ran starts to warn the old oni, who answers her by tossing his grenade up and down. "Believe me, boss, I know. But you know damn well there's no way t'fix a youma once it gets turned."
>The kitsune groans shortly, giving the ice-encased creature a long, agonized look.
-
>"I have done it, Mr Doubles. You may have heard of the recent fainting spell at <proper name of Highschool>. That was due to a youma, and I was the one who stopped it. Please, just leave all of this to me."
-
>"I have done it, Mr Doubles. You may have heard of the recent fainting spell at <proper name of Highschool>. That was due to a youma, and I was the one who stopped it. Please, just leave all of this to me."
>"You have hearing damage, girlie?" the oni asks you lightly. Ran, however, stops her assault on the coffin, holds up her hand to Doubles, and gives you a look. "You can return a youma to its uncorrupted form?" she asks you as another energy stream snaps under the swing of your scepter.
-
>"I have done it before, I can do it again."
>Keep at it!
-
>"I have done it before, I can do it again."
>Keep at it!
>The kitsune's look is one of barely-concealed hope. Doubles, however, taps the ice-covered youma with his grenade. "Prove it."
-
>"I shall, once I am done with it. In the meantime, could you help everyone else get out?"
>Keep severing those energy tethers.
-
>"I shall, once I am done with it. In the meantime, could you help everyone else get out?"
>Keep severing those energy tethers.
>"Once you're done with it?" Doubles asks you incredulously. "What in the six hells do ye plan to do with this thing?"
>You select a pair of coffins, side-by-side, and break the connection between them and the youma. A few steps to the west, and another one is broken. Eight more remain.
>Ran holds her hand out, palm upwards, and a small green flame appears in her hand. She throws this ball of flame towards the energy trail nearest to her, which is tied to one of the more distant coffins, seemingly trying to follow your example. The trail ripples, wavers, then dissipates. Seven more remain.
>Doubles shrugs, then puts his grenade away, producing a smaller pistol. He levels his weapon at the coffin at the bottom of the stairs, near the entrance to the store, and fires two shots into the coffin's gauge. These shots leave brilliant white sparks upon impact, but have no other effect on the coffin.
-
>Keep it up.
>"I haven't finished conversing with it. I've already mentioned there's been one, have I not? And you heard it boast that it wishes to make more. So it only makes sense to learn about the one behind this, and try to arrange for a more permanent solution than violence, wouldn't you agree?"
-
>Keep it up.
>"I haven't finished conversing with it. I've already mentioned there's been one, have I not? And you heard it boast that it wishes to make more. So it only makes sense to learn about the one behind this, and try to arrange for a more permanent solution than violence, wouldn't you agree?"
>Breaking the connection on the coffin nearest to the escalator to the second floor, combined with Ran's effort, brings your total remaining total down to five remaining energy streams.
>"Ah, I get you." The old oni replies, ceasing his shooting for a moment to curse. "Wanna grill one while you've got the chance. That, I can get behind." He ejects the magazine on this pistol, pockets both, then produces a large knife. "Figurin' out the damn fool behind this beastie's a good plan. Just don't be too surprised if you don't get nothin' out of it."
>Turning to the coffin on top of the stairs, he jams his knife into the coffin to try and pry it open. He seems to have no more success with his blade than Ran did with her crowbar.
-
>Let's get close to the youma, and break a bunch of them from there.
-
>Let's get close to the youma, and break a bunch of them from there.
>Deciding to expedite the process by breaking all the energy tethers at the source, you cross the sales' floor (avoiding the broken glass and scattered jewelery) to the icy tomb of the youma.
>About four feet away from the block of ice, however, it explodes! Shards of ice of all sizes fly in all directions!
-
>Leap back! Try to bring up another one of those shields to deflect the ice.
-
>"Frreeze it again!"
-
>"Frreeze it again!"
>Let's think twice about saying this, if we're going to speak with the thing, escalating hostilities is not a good idea.
-
>"Frreeze it again!"
>Let's think twice about saying this, if we're going to speak with the thing, escalating hostilities is not a good idea.
>You consider yelling to Doubles to do what he did the first time to incapacitate the youma. Then you wonder if this would be a good idea. It would seem to be a good idea, as while the youma was frozen, you were working to secure the safety of its victims, perhaps could have found a way to free them altogether. And you might have found a way to convince this stubborn oni to leave, because he obviously isn't going to leave a fight. Maybe Ran, as well, or at least asked her why she seems so reluctant to let her suspiciously armed employee destroy the youma. And of course, it being immobilized gave you the freedom to purify it without it shooting back, or at least try to, and restore whatever precious item was corrupted to its original form. Plus it'd still be around after doing all this if you wanted to try and interrogate it more.
>So, having thought twice, you decide that having Doubles freeze the youma again WOULD, in fact, be a good idea.
>"Frreeze it again!"
>Leap back! Try to bring up another one of those shields to deflect the ice.
>But first, there's the spray of ice to deal with! Springing backwards, you wave your scepter in front of you, conjuring forth another blue veil of light. The veil ripples as the ice impacts it and vanishes into steam, but none penetrate your defensive ward. You do not turn to see how Ran fares, but you hear a *whoosh* of flame from just behind you, and no sounds of pain from her, so presumably, she weathered the storm in her own way.
>Doubles, however, is not quick as lucky as the two magic-imbued women he fights alongside of. Evidently he has no shield in his bag of tricks, and he was much closer to the ice block than you two. He is pummeled by the flying ice, and scrambles around behind the coffin to afford him some protection. You can see several cuts along his arms and back. To his credit, he never cried out.
>"Good plan!" he shouts back at you as you advice him to put it on ice again, pulling out his larger pistol, and, when the ice stops flying, turns to come around the coffin to line up a shot on the youma. Said youma, however, has other ideas, and intercepts the oni halfway, grabbing his gun arm, and hurling him violently across the length of the floor. The old oni slams heavily into the north-facing wall, so hard you think you can hear ribs break from where you are.
>The youma then follows this attack by firing a sustained beam of yellow energy into the oni's chest, pinning him to the wall.
>"You should have destroyed this youma when you had the chance, fools!" the creature screeches in mockery of you all.
-
>Are we in a position to intercept the beam with our sceptre, or possibly place a shield between it and the oni?
-
>Are we in a position to intercept the beam with our sceptre, or possibly place a shield between it and the oni?
>Currently, no. The youma is approximately five feet in front of you. The protective veils you've been able to generate so far go no further than an inch or two in front of you.
-
>How long can we hold such a shield? Or have held it?
-
>How long can we hold such a shield? Or have held it?
>The two times you have generated such a veil, they lasted as long as you needed them. Against the nails, the veil was there no more than a couple of seconds. Against the ice, at least six seconds.
-
>Final question; where is the youma facing?
So, do we try to interpose with the beam, or purify the youma? I have the sneaking suspicion it wouldn't look away from us if it didn't feel confident that we couldn't harm it.
-
>Final question; where is the youma facing?
>Currently, the youma is side-on to you. Right side, to be specific. It is facing the north wall of the building.
-
I doubt we'll be able to purify this one until we've severed all the connections. I say we cover Doubles, and either give him time to shot again, or if he's out, grab the gun ourselves.
>Get between Doubles and the youma and bring up a shield.
-
>Get between Doubles and the youma and bring up a shield.
>Did you intend to place your body in front of the beam, or remain to the side of it?
-
>Make a shield, then get behind it.
-
>Make a shield, then get behind it.
>As in, create a barrier where you are, which would materialize in front of you, and then put both it, and you, in front of the beam?
-
>Yes, but let's do it while we're moving to interpose between them.
-
>Yes, but let's do it while we're moving to interpose between them.
>We understand. Time to save the old man with the arsenal!
>Waving your scepter in front of you, you summon forth your defensive screen of light once more. It remains in front of you as you sprint forward towards the energy beam assaulting Doubles. You can see his face contorted in agony, but he does not scream. He's made of pretty stern stuff.
>Your barrier securely in place, you jump in front of the beam! You hear the old oni's breath leave him as he slides down the wall. The veil of light holds, but this attack is much stronger than the last two it blocked. After several seconds, you can see cracks and faults form. With a triumphant snarl from the youma, your shield shatters, and the youma's energy blast takes you full in the chest. But your shield obviously absorbed a fair amount of the attack, as this blast didn't hurt as much as the first time it blasted you. Still, if feels like getting punched in the chest by a pro boxer, and you stagger backwards a few steps under the impact.
>It's attack over, the youma levels a malicious sneer your way. You can feel the utter contempt possessed by the one who corrupted this thing.
-
>It'll be okay, this is a temporary setback, at best.
>If we can still talk, say, "Where did we leave off?"
-
>It'll be okay, this is a temporary setback, at best.
>If we can still talk, say, "Where did we leave off?"
>You've weathered worse, and can handle much more, if need be. At least, you tell yourself.
>You take a breath then attempt to pick off where you left off before Doubles froze the thing.
>"About here." the youma screeches, discharging another energy beam.
-
>Block it, then move out of the way if we don't think it's going to hit the oni once we move.
-
>Block it, then move out of the way if we don't think it's going to hit the oni once we move.
>You generate another light veil, but this one doesn't even last as long as the first one did. Fortunately, you are prepared for this this time around, and are prepared to evade the worst of the blast. The impact of the last shot carried you out of direct line with Doubles, so he should be just fine if you dodge this one. So you do just that. The barrier you put up did fail a bit sooner than expected, so the energy beam still manages to graze your shoulder slightly. Not enough to do any harm, but it leaves a very uncomfortable sensation of heat behind.
>Ceasing its assault on you, the youma turns its attention to Ran. It fires off a volley of nails at the kitsune. Somewhat alarmingly, the nails go right through Ran's body and out the other side. And yet... do no visible damage at all? What?
>Ran's figure shimmers and vanishes.
-
>Take a moment to recuperate, and see if anything happens where Ran was, or elsewhere in the store.
-
>Take a moment to recuperate, and see if anything happens where Ran was, or elsewhere in the store.
>Rotating your shoulder to ensure there was no harm done to your arm (there is none you can detect), you catch your breath and also turn your attention to where Ran was standing. She does not appear in evidence there, or anywhere else.
>"Fleeing while you can, youkai?" the youma mocks her, calling out to the open air. Then it turns its head back towards you. "One left..."
>The youma starts to raise its arm again, but doesn't finish the gesture before the air next to it ripples and Ran seemingly materializes out of thin air, IN mid air. She delivers a swift, solid kick to the youma's jaw, sending it staggering sideways.
>Kitsune got some tricks!
-
>Do we feel up to purifying this thing?
>How is doing in the wake of being frozen and having connections severed and such?
-
>Do we feel up to purifying this thing?
>How is doing in the wake of being frozen and having connections severed and such?
>You feel fully capable of unleashing your purifying light upon this creature.
>It's offensive power doesn't appear to have been hampered at all, that's for sure. But Ran was able to catch it completely off guard, and it doesn't seem to be recovering its footing as fast as you might have thought it capable of. Its possible some its senses have been dulled by its entombing. Or perhaps your efforts to stem the flow of energy its receiving is having an effect. It's hard to say.
-
>If we can do it without catching Ran in it, unleashing Realization of the Wandering on this thing.
-
>If we can do it without catching Ran in it, unleashing Realization of the Wandering on this thing.
>Electing to nip this thing's spree of damage in the bud, rather than risk furthur harm to those present (including yourself) you give your scepter a twirl, sending a burst of color off. Ran, catching your act, dashes backwards in midair. Man, flying must be nice.
>As the youma gets its footing back underneath it, you unleash the light of purification until this corrupted creature. Something seems... different, this time, though. Your othersight affords you a view of the creatures' core, as well as the black energy surrounding it. The last youma, your light penetrated the thin barrier between you and the core, and removed the seed of evil from the ring that it had been attached to. This time, however, whatever object lies at the core of this one, the curtain of darkness seems to resist. Swirling like dark water.... Then the youma completely disappears beneath the light of your attack, and you can see it no more.
>When the light fades... The youma remains.
-
>Does it seem to be affected at all?
-
>Does it seem to be affected at all?
>Outwardly, there is no visible change upon the youma.
>Inwardly, the black energy surrounding the core seems agitated, but in no way diminished.
>The youma pulls back its thin lips into a hideous sneer. "Can't destroy this one so easily, human."
>"What happened?" Ran calls out to you.
-
>"It's resisting more than the last one did."
>Go for more energy connections, making sure to block or evade any incomming attacks.
-
>"Don't focus on it! Disrupt the tethers!"
-
>"It's resisting more than the last one did."
>"Told you I made this one better, human." the youma sneers at you.
>"Got any other tricks up your sleeve?" Ran asks you as she settles back down on the sales floor.
>Go for more energy connections, making sure to block or evade any incomming attacks.
>"Don't focus on it! Disrupt the tethers!"
>No one said this would ever be easy...
>The youma proving resistant to your attempt to fix it, you return your attention to the matter of its energy feeds. You separate one stream as you move towards the south wall, having to take more stock of the display tables, now that you have something you need to focus on dodging. Another falls victim to your scepter, but with three streams left, the remaining streams elevate out of your melee reach, save where they emerge from the coffins themselves.
>The youma sounds like it's starting to taunt you again, but it gets cut off by Ran hitting it in the face with a blast of energy.
-
>Time to make a run for those other coffins!
>Keep an eye out for attacks from the youma.
-
>Time to make a run for those other coffins!
>Keep an eye out for attacks from the youma.
>If the youma will alter her tactics, then you too shall alter yours. If cut the streams off at the source is what you must do, then do it you shall.
>As you approach the nearest coffin to you, you ponder for a moment if jumping atop the display cases would help your cause. It would give you the height you need to sever the streams without running across the store. But on the other hand, you can't be certain the glass cases would support your weight.
>As you break the tether between that coffin and the youma, it fires off another volley of spikes in your direction, but Ran levels another kick at its arm, throwing off its aim and sending the nails into the floor a few feet behind you. With a frustrated snarl, the youma grabs Ran by the leg and slams her violently into the floor. It then spins and throws the businesswoman towards the north wall. She impacts a few feet from where the youma tossed Doubles, who still has shown no signs of movement.
>Its second distraction dealt with, the youma turns its burning orange eyes on you. "Still think you can win, human?" it screeches, sending a short blast of energy at you. You erect another veil of light to block it, and this time, the veil shatters upon impact, and though it fully prevents the energy from reaching you, the force of the impact makes you stagger back a step. You notice a strain upon your body as this barrier shatters. Your defensive veil may be sufficient to block the youmas nails and lighter physical attacks, but you're going to need a better barrier to handle its energy attacks.
>Two energy streams remain, both attached to coffins in front of the display case along the south wall, about 15 feet away from you, standing next to each other.
-
>Do we feel up to speaking? If so:
>"I'm not interested in winning, I'm interested in talking with you! Unfortunately, you're leaving me little option toward the latter at the moment!"
>Keep moving. Can we put the display case between us and the youma, and still reach those caskets?
-
>Do we feel up to speaking? If so:
>"I'm not interested in winning, I'm interested in talking with you! Unfortunately, you're leaving me little option toward the latter at the moment!"
>Keep moving. Can we put the display case between us and the youma, and still reach those caskets?
>You do, and do so. The youma, however, still does not seem entirely receptive of your efforts towards a peaceful resolution. "The only words you could say to interest me, human, are 'I give up.'"
>You press one towards the two final coffins. The display cases between you and it are staggered, not layed out in a straight line to each other, but the path to the coffins is not cut off by them. It is possible to keep them between you and it.
>The youma raises its hand again and you close to within five feet of the caskets, and you prepare to evade. But a burst of flame appears in front of the youma's face, and it's energy blast flies high, splashing against the roof. Ran has come back to one knee, grimacing, but still active. "If that woman has a chance to change what you took back to normal," she declares through gritted teeth. "then I won't let you harm her!"
-
>Keep moving, and put those display cases between the youma and us. Duck behind them as needs be.
>Should we get to another coffin, make with the severing.
-
>Keep moving, and put those display cases between the youma and us. Duck behind them as needs be.
>Should we get to another coffin, make with the severing.
>With the youma distracted, you pick your way around the jewelery cases towards the final two coffins with active energy streams flowing towards the youma's ugly black pendant.
>"You can slow me, but you can't stop me, youkai." the youma screeches, punctuated by the sound of another energy blast, and a glance backwards reveals the youma fired at Ran. The kitsune doesn't answer, but she does launch herself into the air again, neatly evading the attack. She holds back on counterattacking, however, her face an expression of determination, but conflicted as well.
>The youma seems to pick up on this, and sneers at her. "You reek of fear, youkai. You actually have power enough that you might have destroyed this youma. But you are crippled by your affection for the tool I used to make it. Your fear of destroying it. And your hope that that human can return that object to normal is as pointless as all hope is. She will fail, just as you will fail."
>As if to dispute the youma's declaration, Ran raises her hands over her head, a large fireball forming between her hands, which she unleashes upon her enemy. The youma lets loose an energy beam of its own, and the two attacks collide in midair, both exploding, the shockwave of force blowing your hair and rattling the glass cases around you.
>While the kitsune's attack was unable to damage the youma, it was sufficient to keep it distracted long enough for you to make your way, unmolested, to the final two coffins. With a flourish of your scepter, the final two streams of energy are severed.
-
>How does it react?
>If it's not obviously crippled and/or reeling, introduce it to Samsara and purification once more.
-
>How does it react?
>If it's not obviously crippled and/or reeling, introduce it to Samsara and purification once more.
>The ugly black pendant-thing around its neck had been pulsing with a black energy. Now that its energy leads have been cut, it is no longer pulsing. And the darkness swirling within the youma, while not diminished, does not seem to be as agitated as it was. Whether this is a result of Ran's attacks against it, your breaking of its energy streams, or the time since your last attack, is unclear.
>Outwardly, though, it shows no obvious ill effects, other than battle damage inflicted by the store's owner and her employee. Whoever's controlling that thing wasn't kidding, it's built a lot better than the ring-youma.
>But its attention is still diverted, and with its energy feeds gone, perhaps it will be more susceptible to your attempt to purify it. Calling forth the light of purity within, you unleash your light once more. This time, however, a coffin dislodges itself from the floor and flies across the room, intercepting your Realization of the Wandering. The coffin absorbs the light and dissipates into nothingness, revealing the seemingly unconscious form of a teenaged girl with blonde hair, who falls to the floor.
>Another coffin flies across the room, this one towards Ran, and the kitsune is forced to dodge the massive projectile, which she does only barely. She is unable, however, to dodge the energy blast the youma sends at her in response, with strikes her and stuns her for a moment. Long enough for the still-airborne coffin to fly back the way it came, body-checking the tailed woman and knocking her to the floor again.
-
>Move away from the coffins, and try to catch them both in a purification. Be wary of any others coming toward us.
-
>Move away from the coffins, and try to catch them both in a purification. Be wary of any others coming toward us.
>Taking a few steps backwards and to the side, you point your scepter at the two coffins before you. The past times you have unleashed your Realizations, it's been a fairly narrow beam. This time however, it is wide enough to incorporate both coffins. Like the one before, they dissapear, the two humans contained therein- a male and female- collapse to the ground.
-
>Is there any reaction from the Youma?
-
>Is there any reaction from the Youma?
>It ceases its attack against both Ran and you for a moment, and turns its head to look at you with one orange eye. From side on, its expression is undecipherable.
-
>Purify another coffin; two if we can catch them in one shot.
-
>Purify another coffin; two if we can catch them in one shot.
>There are another side by side pair of coffins, so you turn your scepter on them, annihilating them and freeing the humans within, a middle aged man and a small boy. This time, however, you notice another pinched strain on your body as your unleash a broad-beam Realizations.
>"You realize you only delay the inevitable, human." the youma screeches.
-
>Must be wearing out.
>Wait, we were told that our power came from our connections with others.
>Think of our friends, old and new. Marisa, Nitori, Reisen, Aya, Eagle, all of them. Even if they don't know what's going on, we can't let them down.
-
>Must be wearing out.
>Wait, we were told that our power came from our connections with others.
>Think of our friends, old and new. Marissa, Nitori, Reisen, Aya, Eagle, all of them. Even if they don't know what's going on, we can't let them down.
>You HAVE used your powers a lot more this time than last, and taken a couple shots along the way. It is quite possible they're running low, or that your body simply isn't used to channeling that kind of energy yet.
>Either way, from what you learned during that journey within yourself, the people that care about you, and that you care about, are the source of your strength. So you call upon your feelings of attachment to the people in your life. When you stood before that crowd, that sea of faces within yourself, you felt a brush of the power contained therein. This time, it seems like a little more, as though new faces have been added to the crowd. A rush of energy courses though your body.
>While the strain you feel isn't really lessened much, you feel fortified, tougher. Like you can take that strain and much more besides. And you will! People are counting on you!
>Tapping into the wellspring of your power has a side-effect as well. The youma had been raising its arm and turning towards you, undoubtedly to fire again. It stops, however, and hisses, turning away slightly and raising its arm towards its eyes, as it to ward off a sudden glare.
-
>Purification beam go!
-
>Before that: "Let us speak again in a less stressful setting. I am curious to hear what you have to say."
-
>Before that: "Let us speak again in a less stressful setting. I am curious to hear what you have to say."
>Purification beam go!
>Reasserting your desire to see a peaceful conclusion to this conflict, you turn your purification beam on the youma again, while its seemingly distracted by your upwelling of light. Like the first time, your beam strike the youma. This time, however, the creature screeches on impact, the sound so loud and penetrating, it takes a great deal of your focus to keep from releasing your scepter and covering your ears. Ran, you note, is doing just that, trying to keep her feline ears flattened to her head with her hands.
>"Not again....!" you hear it screech. "I won't be defeated TWICE!"
>Another coffin flies across the room, breaking the glass of a display case in flight, and interdicts your Realizations attack, which once frees the human trapped inside. You do not, however, have time to assess the effect of your attack on the youma before it sends three more coffins flying across the room, this time at you. One is coming pretty much straight at you from front on, and the other two are to your left, about 3 feet apart.
-
>Do we feel we could alter the effect on the fly, making it a reasonably short-range field rather than a beam?
-
>Do we feel we could alter the effect on the fly, making it a reasonably short-range field rather than a beam?
>You are not certain. Given your previous experience, even if you were able, the effect would probably produce a great deal of strain on your body, worse than you'd experienced before.
>The defensive veils you've produced so far would not be sufficient, either, you're certain. You would need a much stronger spell to deflect objects of that size and weight.
-
>Are we still near the counter? If so, duck under it.
-
>Are we still near the counter? If so, duck under it.
>You are indeed still near the counters along the south wall. Uncertain of your ability to block or eliminate the incoming projectiles, you turn and dive over the glass cases with surprising ease and speed, and duck down behind it for cover.
>Two of the coffins fly over top of it, crashing into the wall behind you. The third, the one that was coming at you from the front, smashes into the display case in front of you, sending a shower of glass against the wall and across your back. That coffin remains where it is, but the two coffins against the wall fly off in opposite directions.
>Your point of view does not afford you a clear view of the youma, but it has stopped screaming and, if you're hearing correctly, you think it's preparing another one of its energy attacks.
-
>Take a quick look up; don't reveal too much of our head if we can. And be ready to dive behind the next counter.
>Remeber: We cannot let this go any further. We will not let it hurt anyone, not Ran or Doubles, not anyone in these coffins. We will not let it leave this place or hurt anyone outside. I will not advance one step toward those most precious to us. We shall overcome it, and we shall confront the one who made it. He will be shown the error of his ways, and we will help him move beyond the spite that drives him.
-
>Take a quick look up; don't reveal too much of our head if we can. And be ready to dive behind the next counter.
>Remeber: We cannot let this go any further. We will not let it hurt anyone, not Ran or Doubles, not anyone in these coffins. We will not let it leave this place or hurt anyone outside. I will not advance one step toward those most precious to us. We shall overcome it, and we shall confront the one who made it. He will be shown the error of his ways, and we will help him move beyond the spite that drives him.
>Popping your head up over the broken counter, enough to see over anyway, you get a good view of the coffin that crashed into the case. So you move a little to your left and have a clearer look, reminding yourself once more of what's at stake. And of your willingness, determination, and ability, to stop it.
>The youma has formed another one of those black heart-shaped bundles of energy like it threw at Doubles earlier. This one, however, it looses at Ran. Who still has yet to recover from her previous hit. She looks in your direction, her eyes imploring. "Don't destroy it, please!" she cries out to you before the black energy engulfs her. It quivers and undulates, then shoots up, reforming itself into another one of those damnable coffins.
-
>Draw upon everything we can, and purify it while it is distracted.
-
>Draw upon everything we can, and purify it while it is distracted.
>Okay, that is the LAST coffin that thing creates. Kid gloves are off.
>You channel all the power you can feel into your Realizations of the Wandering, while the thing has its back turned to you. This time, you hit it hard enough to make it stagger forward under the force of your impassioned assault.
>You cannot sustain your attack for long, however, as one of the coffins that missed you moments ago circles back around and smashes you in the side, knocking you off your feet and practically flying sideways, landing in a heap, stunned by the force of the impact. Your scepter leaves your hands and lands a few inches away from your hand.
>Your power is even greater than before, Hero. a familiar voice rings in your head. But you need to adjust your tactics. This one's different than the last one.
-
>Is it that doll? The Purpose? If not, then who is it?
>What should I do?
-
>Is it that doll? The Purpose? If not, then who is it?
>What should I do?
>A somewhat cheerful, yet not quite there voice in your head... It certainly sounds like the doll, all right. On the other hand, you did just get hit by what felt like a runaway truck. You may be hearing things...
>That attack of yours. It's designed to destroy the dark seed with a youma, without destroying the object it's corrupting. But this youma's core is protected, warded a black energy veil that the the last youma didn't possess. You must remove that protective barrier, if you wish to purify the object without destroying it. You can't do that with the attack you've been employing.
>From your position on the ground, you can see the youma's feet leave the ground. "You're next, human." it screeches.
-
>We instinctively knew how to use the purification beam. Is any appropriate ability coming to us now? If not: How do I do this?
-
>We instinctively knew how to use the purification beam. Is any appropriate ability coming to us now? If not: How do I do this?
>That time, you thought about what you wanted to do, and the means to do it came to you. This time, you were unaware that your current tool wasn't sufficient to achieve that aim. You are now aware. What you would need in this case would be an attack to weaken the youma, break the defences around its tainted core, without destroying said.
>And when you needed to employ your first tool, you needed to put a name to it, a 'charm' to invoke it. Similarly, you'd need a charm, a name, to encapsulate the tool you want to create. One to strip away the layers of darkness between you and the violated item, but not destroying it, or the youma that surrounds it. A name like...
Again, I had a default name of "Scarlet Lotus: Red Starlight". But feel free to come up with one yourself, if you so desire.
>The doll's voice continues, Of course, even with the right tool, beating this thing won't be easy. These black things make a formidable offense AND defence.
-
>If purification is akin to knowing Samsara, then let removing an obstacle to it be akin to understanding Anitya. It shall be Realization of Impermanence.
>Can we determine anything about this new technique before we use it?
-
>If purification is akin to knowing Samsara, then let removing an obstacle to it be akin to understanding Anitya. It shall be Realization of Impermanence.
>Can we determine anything about this new technique before we use it?
Presuming there's no objections from the others...
>Scarlet Lotus: Realization of Impermanence it shall be.
>Presently, only the words and the intent are known to you.
-
>Does it feel like we have time to invoke it before having to duck or move again?
>If so, say the words and direct whatever results at the youma.
-
>Does it feel like we have time to invoke it before having to duck or move again?
>If so, say the words and direct whatever results at the youma.
>The coffin that slammed into you is still flying around fairly close to you, and there are two more in midair not far removed from that. It is possible they could fly back at you while you are invoking your new power.
-
>Move. Take momentary refuge behind the unshattered counter, and keep going if that doesn't feel safe enough.
-
>Move. Take momentary refuge behind the unshattered counter, and keep going if that doesn't feel safe enough.
>The counter you are currently behind extends to your left and right. It is intact on either side of you. Which direction did you wish to move in?
-
>Whichever offers more cover for the moment. If there isn't an immediate favorite in that regard, keep going the way we were going when we first got here.
-
>Whichever offers more cover for the moment. If there isn't an immediate favorite in that regard, keep going the way we were going when we first got here.
>The counter to the left extends all the way to the far wall, where there is a closed door with a locked padlock upon it. To your right, the counter does not go all the way to the wall, stopping a couple feet away, but a pair of bathroom doors are in evidence, which could provide additional cover in the event you need it. And an enclosed space would elminate the coffins as a weapon the youma could employ.
>Staying in a crouch, you begin to move to the right, staying as low as you can behind the cover for counter, but keeping an eye and ear on those coffins, in case the youma sends them at you again.
>It's unfortunate that those other two mortals were taken out of the fight. the doll's voice continues. I knew they couldn't defeat the youma, but they did well, and could have proved a distraction. It pauses for a moment. There is another mortal outside this building with power of her own, but that won't help at this time. Not with that barrier around this place. I'm afraid you'll have to do this on your own, Magical Lotus.
>The youma does not, at the moment, employ its coffins against you, but its position in midair does afford it a clear shot with its other weapons, and it fires another beam of energy at you.
-
>Put something between us and the beam!
>If this is not plausible, leap back from it.
-
>Put something between us and the beam!
>If this is not plausible, leap back from it.
>The glass display cases afford you few options of large objects to move, and there are barely inches between you and the wall to your right.
>You crouch a little deeper, and then launch yourself backwards away from the yellow blast. This proves more effective than you'd expected, as you catapult backwards almost all the way to the wall behind you, well clear of the yellow beam, before coming back to ground, still behind the counter.
>That defensive wall you were using earlier, is it not strong enough to handle the youma's attacks?
-
>It was working less well when I was tiring, but I have not tried it since becoming reinvigorated.
>Put up a barrier, and if it looks like that will buy us enough time, bring out the new ability.
-
>It was working less well when I was tiring, but I have not tried it since becoming reinvigorated.
>Put up a barrier, and if it looks like that will buy us enough time, bring out the new ability.
>You stand straight, calling forth another screen of pale blue light to give yourself some protection from whatever attack the youma employs next. You note that, besides the two coffins wheeling in the air over and around you, all the rest have come off the ground and are orbiting the youma, like satellites. Only one of them, however, has an energy stream coming out of it. Odds are, that's the one Ran's in.
>Have you considered created a stronger one? the doll asks you, but you've not time to respond before the youma adjusts its aim towards you again.
>Its arm is still outstretched, but it does not fire another energy shot, nor does it send one of its coffins flying at you. Rather, it fires another volley of nails at you. As before, the nails are absorbed by the veil of light before you.
>"How much longer can you keep this up, human?" it taunts you in its horrible screeching voice. Little does it know what you've got in store for it now...
>You point your violet-colored scepter at the youma, and invoke the phrase, "Scarlet Lotus: Realization of Impermanence"
>With a sound like a thunderclap, a stream of red and white globes of energy burst forth from your scepter with astonishing speed, and you have to fight to keep your scepter in line against the unexpected kickback generated by the attack.
>Not unexpectedly, the youma puts a coffin between itself and your attack. Unlike your Wanderings attack, however, the Impermanence attack is not consumed in destroying this coffin. The stream of globes impact against the coffin and it dissolves after only about half of the stream, revealing the young woman, evidently an oni, trapped within. The globes travel straight though the oni, neither harming her nor slowing her fall out of the air, the remaining 55%, more or less, carry on and impact themselves against the youma, detonating in bright bursts of white and red light.
>The youma screeches again, writhing in midair under the force of your assault. It remains intact and in midair after your attack subsides, though charred and beaten. Your Othersight reveals, perhaps more importantly, that the blackness within it seems to have thinned. You still can't clearly see the core of the thing, but you think you can catch hints of it beneath the swirling black energy.
>"Not enough!" the youma screams, unleashing another one of its angry yellow blasts at you.
>You sense a tremor in the air around you.
-
>Let's try a stronger barrier, then.
>And then blast it again.
-
>Do we feel we can dodge this one? If so, do it. Relying on the shield too much makes us predictable.
-
>Let's try a stronger barrier, then.
>A stronger barrier would be a good idea. If for nothing else, to know you can create one.
>And much like forming another attack, the idea and then intent yields the words,
Rest assured, I will get to the other two commands posted in due course. But I wanted to get this in first. That being the name of your defensive skill.
"Sapphire Lotus: Clarity Ward" was my idea. Feel free to use it, or venture another choice.
-
>A barrier, I think, would most represent the idea of samkalpa. So let us call it Renunciation.
-
>A barrier, I think, would most represent the idea of samkalpa. So let us call it Renunciation.
>And then blast it again.
>Do we feel we can dodge this one? If so, do it. Relying on the shield too much makes us predictable.
>While you've no desire to appear predictable to your enemy, this blast seems faster than the others, and you're fairly certain you won't be able to dodge it. At least not entirely. Perhaps you've angered the demon behind it, or its stepped up its attacks, now that you've increased your threat level. Regardless, it seems this blast will be your first test of your improved barrier.
>You elevate your baton over your head as you twirl on your heel, speaking the phrase "Sapphire Lotus: Renunciation". A ovular bubble of blue light appears around you, encircling you and while not obscuring your vision, you can sense the screen is much thicker, much stronger, than the more basic shields you've created so far.
>The youma's yellow ray impacts against this new barrier, and dissipates harmlessly against it. You feel no strain, no drain in energy, and the impact creates barely a ripple, even at the point of impact.
>Its attack defeated, you return your attention once again to offense, as the oni you freed from its coffin falls to the floor with a crash. She's lucky she didn't land on her head, but even with oni toughness, that can't have felt good. That's a solid eight foot drop. A human might not fare so well.
>You point your scepter at the youma again, readying your new attack spell. As you unleash it, the blue shield around you dissapears. Evidently it doesn't remain active when you use your Impermanence attack. This time, the youma puts two coffins up before it as a screen, its driver evidently learning. While as before, the coffins dissapear and your attack does reach the youma, the number of globes that reach it this time is far less than before. This attack has barely any effect on the swirling blackness protecting the youma's core. The two people freed by your attack, a pair of middle aged human males, begin to fall from the air, one towards the floor, the other over a glass display case containing necklaces.
>You sense another tremor in the air around you.
-
>Sweep a purification beam across the room to get rid of any remaining coffins, then blast the youma again, evading or putting up a barrier as necessary.
-
>Before that, does it seem like either person will be hurt by this fall? If so, do we feel we can get to them in time to catch them?
-
>Before that, does it seem like either person will be hurt by this fall? If so, do we feel we can get to them in time to catch them?
>One of them is facing an eight foot fall onto a hard linoleum surface, the other about a six foot fall onto a glass display case. When the oni landed from that height, she had rolled to land pretty much face-first, dead weight hitting the ground. A human COULD survive this, but the risk of injury is moderate to high, depending on the person in question. It certainly would do him any good, that's for damn sure.
>The other is potentially in greater risk, given that he's angling to land on a glass case. Either the glass will shatter and cut him very badly before he hits the floor, or it holds, and he hits two hard surfaces instead of just the one. Either way basically doubles the risk of injury.
>From your current position, you could run and catch either one of the two for certain. But they are falling from the same height at the same speed, so you could not catch both with your arms.
-
>Time for a gamble, then.
>Dash toward them, prepare our sceptre, and try to create another barrier. This time, try to make the barrier horizontal rather than vertical, so that it extends out like a tray or an outstretched hand, and place it under whichever is closest. Then do it again for the other person if it seems to work for the first one. At the very worst, it'll break therir falls for a moment, and two shorter falls are much less damaging than one.
>If it doesn't work at all, favor the one who might slam through the glass case and try to physically catch him or her.
-
>Time for a gamble, then.
>Dash toward them, prepare our sceptre, and try to create another barrier. This time, try to make the barrier horizontal rather than vertical, so that it extends out like a tray or an outstretched hand, and place it under whichever is closest. Then do it again for the other person if it seems to work for the first one. At the very worst, it'll break therir falls for a moment, and two shorter falls are much less damaging than one.
>If it doesn't work at all, favor the one who might slam through the glass case and try to physically catch him or her.
>Did you wish to employ a basic barrier like the first ones, or the stronger Sapphire Lotus ability?
-
>Whichever is faster.
-
>Whichever is faster.
>You believe you have time for either, but you're not certain of the strength of the simpler veil, and you've never tested either against physical impact beyond small projectiles. So you elect to employ your Sapphire Lotus technique.
>Dash toward them, prepare our sceptre, and try to create another barrier. This time, try to make the barrier horizontal rather than vertical, so that it extends out like a tray or an outstretched hand, and place it under whichever is closest. Then do it again for the other person if it seems to work for the first one. At the very worst, it'll break therir falls for a moment, and two shorter falls are much less damaging than one.
>If it doesn't work at all, favor the one who might slam through the glass case and try to physically catch him or her.
>You leap over the counter and spring forward, towards the luckless men falling towards the floor. Blue light swirls around your scepter as your call forth another screen of energy, this time not to protect yourself from harm, but others. Despite your intention to form first one cushion of light, then another, two seperate beams of strong blue light emerge from the lotus tip of your scepter. They fly out before you, stop beneath the two men, and expand into two glowing blue hands, one less than a foot above the floor, the other directly above a display case. Left and right hands, even!
>Both men come to a halt, but not with a crash or a thud. They come to a surprisingly gentle halt.
>The result on your body, however, is not quite as gentle, as the force of stopping the falls of two grown men produces a sharp wrenching motion on your body. Not enough to break your concentration, but it's more than uncomfortable, it downright hurts.
>And while your heroism has saved these two men from potentially serious harm, it affords the youma a clear shot at you. You can practically hear its skin stretch in a savage grin as it crows, "Soft heart!" You brace yourself for the impact of another attack....
>A massive disturbance rocks the building, and a sound like an explosion comes from the area of the entrance. The sudden severe reverbration in the air momentarily makes you lose your focus, and you stagger, falling down onto your butt. The blue hands vanish, letting the humans fall. One man falls to floor, but only 7 or 8 inches, and is likely fine. The other barely falls at all, and the glass display case does not break under his impact. He remains atop it, lying still.
>A vicious yellow beam drills into the floor less than an inch away from you. The youma's still in the air, but its aim must have been thrown off by that detonation.
-
>Move from that beam, and try to figure out where it's coming from!
-
>Move from that beam, and try to figure out where it's coming from!
>You scootch sideways away from the yellow beam the youma fired. It fades, having missed its mark.
>You hear footsteps running up the stairs from the entrance.
-
>What's the Youma doing?
>Assuming it's not about to come after us, or one of the victims, look toward the stairs.
-
>What's the Youma doing?
>Assuming it's not about to come after us, or one of the victims, look toward the stairs.
>The youma is actually doing the same thing you're doing, turning its head to look at the stairs. Somewhat disturbingly, it twists its neck around at an angle that is gruesome to behold to do so.
>A young woman with striped cat ears and matching tail, wearing silver and white miko clothing, bounds up the stairs, a paper charm in her hand. It is Kiku, the somewhat hard-assed miko from the Metal Tiger shrine. She looks towards the floating youma, and her face changes from dour to determined.
>"Youkai!" the youma screams at her. "Where did you find the strength to break my barrier? You reek of fear."
>"I have more strength than you know, creature." the youkai miko intones, holding her charm before her, the paper coming upright with a flash of light. She spares a glance at you. "Get to safety, woman. I shall destroy this creature here and now."
>In your head, the doll wonders aloud, A Terran miko with enough magic to break a barrier? I didn't think the mikos of this world still had that kind of power.
-
>"Let us work together instead; I can cleanse it!"
>Unleash Realization of the Wandering on it again, while it's distracted.
-
>"Let us work together instead; I can cleanse it!"
>Unleash Realization of the Wandering on it again, while it's distracted.
>It's attention turned to the new arrival, and said arrival assured of your intent, you set about proving your ability. This youma has damaged property, threatened lives, and has taken a treasured item away from someone that loves it. You will set this right.
>Coming to your feet, your point your scepter at the youma, noting the remianing coffins are no longer spinning, affording you a clear shot. You unleash the brilliant light of your Wanderings spell, drawing another scream from the youma. This time, it screams in rage, and turns you, the rage in its molten orange eyes so thick you can almost feel it. So much anger...
>When the youma's mouth moves, the voice that emerges is that of the bat you encountered after purifying the gold ring. "ENOUGH!" it howls, the sound almost forcing back your spell. The youma raises its arms, and a pair of yellow beams emerge, pushing your Wanderings away. "ALL you are DOING is delaying the inevitable! We cannot be stopped! We will not be forgotten! A coward and a fool cannot stop ME! This world will SUFFER OUR RAGE!!"
>As your spell battles the youma's beams, and endure the demon's hatred, you see a swirl of golden light appear around the striped miko. "Great Byakko of the west, Metal Tiger and Father of Beasts! Your daughter calls upon you, to aid her in vanquishing this abomination." Her eyes filled with that same light, the talisman she holds snaps up straight as a razor, edged in a silver glow. She throws the paper with a flourish towards the youma, and its lands on the floor beneath it with a snap. She holds her arms out before her, right hand gripping her left wrist, her left hand turned palm up.
>A silver pentagram spirals out from the paper talisman across the floor, and a shaft of golden light emerges from the middle of the star, enveloping the youma. It howls again, and the angry yellow beams holing back your Realizations of the Wandering begin to falter.
>Your Othersight shows you that the black energy protecting the youma's core is extremely agitated, but its seems to be dissipating. It's weakening!
-
>"No one will forget you. I will make sure of it."
>Keep it up; or invoke the purification if needs be.
-
>"No one will forget you. I will make sure of it."
>Keep it up; or invoke the purification if needs be.
>The youma was quite a challenge for you, and would likely have been as much or more for the priestess of the Metal Tiger. Together, you're more than a match for it.
>"This world will suffer no more at your hands. So swears Kiku." the miko vows, adding her voice to yours.
>The light of Kiku's seal grows brighter, as you pour more power into your own attack. "The light...." the demon's voice strains, your purification beam getting closer and closer to its body. "We will drown the light. The coward will be OURS! And YOU-" The youma's threat is cut off as its head jerks forward, a flash of red light streaking in from behind its and striking it in the back of the head, faster than your eye could track, accompanied by the report from a gun.
>Doubles! He's back up, at least to one knee, and still fighting. And with the impact of his bullet, the youma's beams fade, and the light of your purification washes over the stricken youma. You hear it screech once, "The light... takes me....!"and then its form vanishes, dissolving into the light. Kiku lowers her hands, her breath leaving her in a rush you can hear from here.
>As the light from the combined attacks of you and Kiku fade, you hear a dull metallic tinkling sound on the linolium sales floor. Beneath where the youma once was now rests a golden heart-shaped locket. You'd bet your scepter that's Chen's locket.
>The coffins that remain in the air all begin to gently lower to the ground, fading out of existence, revealing the people trapped within. Ran is the only that seems conscious, and she shakes her head groggily and halts her descent for a moment, as if to take stock of the situation. For a moment, as the coffins fade, you fear their victims will plummet like the last three did. They do not, however, and come to rest where they land gently, safely. Their ordeal over.
>For now.
-
>Heave a huge sigh of relief.
>"Thank you. Thank you very much."
>Let's go check on these people.
-
>Heave a huge sigh of relief.
>"Thank you. Thank you very much."
>Let's go check on these people.
>After what seems like hours, you can finally breathe easily, heaving a massive sigh. And then wince slightly at the muscular twinge this creates in your chest. That was a hell of a fight.
>But you'll recover, and the victims of the youma could be hurt worse, so you walk from individual to individual, checking their status, beginning with the oni that fell hard onto the floor. There's a contusion on her forehead, likely from the fall, but she's still breathing easily. In fact, she's drooling a little. If you didn't know better, you'd think she was dreaming. The others, humans all as far as you can tell, do not seem as restful as the young oni, but there are no injuries in evidence on any of them. They seem to be in relatively the same condition that Lily and the others were in after their encounter with the first youma, though not quite as cold to the touch. You take this as a good sign.
>Ran, for her part, floats down the ground, holding a hand to her head, her tails and ears drooping. She looks rather like someone suffering a bad handover.
>With a stiff groan, the aging oni gunman pulls himself to his feet, with difficulty, holding a hand to his chest cavity, leaning against the wall he was thrown against for support.
>Kiku is kneeling by the human that was in the coffin near the top of the stairs. She still seems on alert. Her hair seems to have become some frizzed after employing her spell, but she seems otherwise unaffected by her display of power.
-
>Retrieve the locket and hand it to Ran.
>"Here. I believe this is what Chen was looking for, is it not?"
-
>Retrieve the locket and hand it to Ran.
>"Here. I believe this is what Chen was looking for, is it not?"
>Content that the civilians are in decent shape, you set about the next bit of business; restoring that which was wronged to those its belongs with.
>Scooping up the locket from where it fell, to approach the store's owner and offer it to her. Ran blinks slowly, then looks at you before looking at the item in your hand. A slow, warm smile spreads across her face as she gingerly takes the locket from you. "You did it." she breathes, as if trying to make herself believe. "You really did it." She closes her hand over the keepsake, taking a moment seeming to compose herself, then places her free hand on your shoulder, smiling at you. "I don't know how to thank you, hero. You saved my store, these people, and gave my daughter back her precious jewel. I am in your debt."
>Despite being in fairly obvious pain, Doubles gives you a congratulatory grin. For her part, Kiku stands again, and produces another ofuda charm, her eyes sweeping the area.
-
>"You're welcome."
>Look to Doubles. "Do you need me to call the hospital?"
>What do we recall about Kiku? It's been a long couple hours.
-
>"You're welcome."
>Look to Doubles. "Do you need me to call the hospital?"
>What do we recall about Kiku? It's been a long couple hours.
>"Ran Yakumo honors her debts. Anything you want, anything you need of me, and I shall provide."
>The aging oni chuckles. "I've had a lot worse than this, little witch. I jus' need to catch me breath. 'sides, I heal real fast."
>"She's no witch, old man." Kiku admonishes Doubles. "That was great power, but it wasn't black magic."
>Kiku seemed to occupy a position of power, or seniority, within the temple, admonishing the other miko you encountered about their behavior. She had a severe bearing with them, though you were assured she was a fair woman by another miko, just one who took her role very, very seriously. She disapproved strongly of Eagle, that she made no bones about, and warned you, repeatedly, about keeping your distance from her, and not trusting her for an instant. And yet, you caught a hint that she might be afraid of the Manari member.
>She was very polite, though, if formal, thanking you for providing her fellow mikos with a song. You even got a smile out of her with that performance. She spoke very properly, very formally.
>Eagle seemed to think earlier that Kiku was following you both, or was having you followed. Her presence here seems to lend credence to that theory.
-
>Nod to Doubles. "I won't force you, then. But I might recommend you go, anyways. I'm sure Miss Yakumo wouldn't want you limping around work."
>To Ran: "I shall keep it in mind. I feel I should warn you, the last time I managed to purify a youma, the item it drew from became a Tsukumogami after a few days, who had memories of her time as a youma. I am not sure if it will happen here, this locket clearly hasn't been forgotten. But if it does, do not worry. She wouldn't bear any taint from these events."
>Once Ran and Doubles have said their piece, approach Kiku. "Thank you again for your assistance."
-
>Nod to Doubles. "I won't force you, then. But I might recommend you go, anyways. I'm sure Miss Yakumo wouldn't want you limping around work."
>To Ran: "I shall keep it in mind. I feel I should warn you, the last time I managed to purify a youma, the item it drew from became a Tsukumogami after a few days, who had memories of her time as a youma. I am not sure if it will happen here, this locket clearly hasn't been forgotten. But if it does, do not worry. She wouldn't bear any taint from these events."
>Once Ran and Doubles have said their piece, approach Kiku. "Thank you again for your assistance."
>The oni chuckles a wry chuckle, then pushes himself off the wall. "Yer concern warms me heart, girlie."
>Ran nods. "I understand."
>The kitsune surprised me. the doll sounds in your head. She held back against the youma, even before you arrived.
>The feline youkai nods in your direction. "I did my duty." she states simply. "Your powers are obviously different than mine. Was that the only bakemono here? I detect no others."
-
>"There are no others I know of."
>Do we know of religious types able to do those kinds of feats, or is this unusual to any degree?
-
>"There are no others I know of."
>Do we know of religious types able to do those kinds of feats, or is this unusual to any degree?
>Kiku gives the area another weary glance, then seems to relax slightly, putting her ofuda away. "I must find out if this was an isolated incident or not. I need to know everything that happened before my arrival."
>You know of no one, religious type or not, capable to doing what Kiku just did, except maybe Lily, you're not sure what she can do yet. This definitely qualifies as unusual. Perhaps not as unusual as yourself, perhaps, but still, quite peculiar.
-
>"The battle was already in progress when I got here. I can tell you, however, that this was not an isolated incident. I fought a weaker youma just a few days ago. The same being who created that youma also created this one."
>"How were you able to fight it like that? Such capabilities are not exactly common."
-
>"The battle was already in progress when I got here. I can tell you, however, that this was not an isolated incident. I fought a weaker youma just a few days ago. The same being who created that youma also created this one."
>"How were you able to fight it like that? Such capabilities are not exactly common."
>"No, they are not. But I could ask you the same thing. I do not know you, nor do I know your power."
>"But that can wait. You say this 'youma', was created by another. Who? Where can I find him?"
-
>"I don't fully know, and I intend to find all that out myself."
-
>"I don't fully know, and I intend to find all that out myself."
>"Tell what you do know. Please." she adds as an afterthought.
-
>"Before I do that, may I know a bit more about you?"
-
>"Before I do that, may I know a bit more about you?"
>"I am a servant of the Gods."
-
>Nod.
>"All of them, or the Metal Tiger in particular?"
-
>Nod.
>"All of them, or the Metal Tiger in particular?"
>Kiku takes a moment before answering. "I am a devotee of the Metal Tiger, in faith and magic."
-
>Smile. "Then I am glad you were at my back. I wasn't aware he could grant such gifts, have you been at this for long?"
-
>Smile. "Then I am glad you were at my back. I wasn't aware he could grant such gifts, have you been at this for long?"
>"Few people outside the shrine are aware of that, and I must ask you not to reveal what you've seen here today." She looks from you to other other two, Doubles having crossed the room to stand near Ran, whose eyes are filled with unshed tears. "All of you." Kiku intones solemnly.
>Doubles gives the striped youkai a smile. "Ye've no secrets from us. Yakumo 'n I've known about ye lot for years." Ran nods gently, prompting a scowl from Kiku, but a hint of fear crosses her eyes for an instant.
>She exhales quietly, before turning her eyes back to you. "I have. It takes years to develop the skills I possess. I am the longest serving miko at this temple. And," she continues, looking back at the other two. "I have some questions for you two, later."
-
>Nod. "So, you've been anticipating this for some time?"
-
>Nod. "So, you've been anticipating this for some time?"
>"No."
-
>"That's even more strange, then. If you were not expecting the youma to come, for what purpose were you granted such abilities?"
-
>"That's even more strange, then. If you were not expecting the youma to come, for what purpose were you granted such abilities?"
>"To defeat evil should it ever arise."
>"Those that serve are aware of evil forces that lurk in this world and beyond. It is our duty to keep the mortal world safe from the spirits and dark powers that would do it harm. That is why I have to know everything I can learn about the force behind this incident." She pauses then, as if considering something, then adds, more quietly, "I've never sensed anything quite like what I felt here today."
-
>Make sure other people aren't overhearing.
>"I doubt that merely defeating it would solve the problem. And, I don't think you would have sensed this before. If I understand correctly, the one behind this is a being from another world that has been sealed off from our own for some time. Nor has it been the first time that they've tried this."
-
> We have reason to believe that Satori is..compromised, right?
-
>Make sure other people aren't overhearing.
>"I doubt that merely defeating it would solve the problem. And, I don't think you would have sensed this before. If I understand correctly, the one behind this is a being from another world that has been sealed off from our own for some time. Nor has it been the first time that they've tried this."
>You glance behind you to check if Ran and her oni employee are listening in. The two do not seem to be paying attention to you both now, but from living with Rin, you know feline-type youkai have acute hearing. It's possible Ran will be able to hear you, even if she's not trying to. Nevertheless, you keep your voice down to try and keep your comment between you and Kiku.
>You know you have Kiku's full attention as you speak to her of what you know of your enemy. And she notes the caution you took before speaking furthur, and lowers the volume of her own voice. "We can speak more in private, if you wish. I can ask what I need of the other two witnesses later."
> We have reason to believe that Satori is..compromised, right?
>You do. When you met the Metal Tiger, it cautioned you that all was not well in the four shrines of the 4 great beasts. It warned you that some of the mikos who serve in the four shrines could be your enemies. And when Satori found you in the woods, the Tiger left. When Satori was in your presence, the Tiger blocked your memories of your meeting with him, until Satori had left you. And Lily spoke of Satori's odd behavoir, after you removed the 'veil of lies' from within her.
-
>"That woud be preferable, yes."
>How much longer do we think we can keep the transformation without suffering any ill effects?
-
>"That woud be preferable, yes."
>How much longer do we think we can keep the transformation without suffering any ill effects?
>The silver-skirted miko nods, then looks behind you to Ran. "Yakumo-san." Ran turns her head to look at you both. "Is there a room this individual and I might use to have a private word?"
>"We can use my office." Kiku gives the kitsune a curious look. "I think it would be benificial to compare notes. You two obviously have the power to combat these youma. And I've seen them before, long ago."
>Kiku lets out another one of those breaths of hers. "I concur." She glances at you to hear what you think about including Ran in your war council.
>Apart from battle-weariness and a couple aches, you feel no ill effects, certainly nothing like you experienced after the last fight. At least not yet.
-
>Do we still have our cell phone like this?
>If so: take it out, say, "Allow me a moment to confer with someone else," and call Lily again.
-
>Do we still have our cell phone like this?
>If so: take it out, say, "Allow me a moment to confer with someone else," and call Lily again.
>Your cell phone seems to have gone wherever the rest of your normal clothes and possessions go when your transform. In your Magical Lotus state, you can only use your ring to contact Lily.
>Or.... so you thought, upon first glance. With a faint glow of white light and a dull popping sound, you cellphone appears in your hand. As though it responded to your desire to use it.
>"Neat trick." Doubles remarks. "Can ye pop us up a shot o' whiskey each?"
-
>"I didn't have any beforehand, I'm afraid."
>Call up Lily. Assuming she picks up, say, "Hey, it's me. The situation has been handled, there's nothing to worry about."
-
>"I didn't have any beforehand, I'm afraid."
>Call up Lily. Assuming she picks up, say, "Hey, it's me. The situation has been handled, there's nothing to worry about."
>"Rain check, then."
>Dialing up your fellow magical girl, Lily answers this time on the second ring. And sounds much less energetic than the last time you spoke with her. In fact, she's actually trying to keep her voice down, you think.
>"I hope that's true."
-
>"Did something bad happen on your end?"
-
>"Did something bad happen on your end?"
>"There's something.... wrong, here."
-
>Frown.
>"Go on."
-
>Frown.
>"Go on."
>"Well... it stinks here. It smells like the open end of a sewer here, now. Wasn't this bad when we first got here, was just a little smell. I thought someone had- Yknow, cut one. But it kept getting worse and worse. Except no one else can smell it. Marigold can't, Chie can't, the receptionist, the shrink, no one. Except me. Normally, I'd just think my sniffer's broken, but me smelling something this bad, and Chie can't? That's not right."
>"And there's something just not right here. It's like... Yknow, when you walk into your room, and nothing seems wrong, but you just know your little cousin's waiting under the bed to jump out and surprise you, and then he was in the closet all along and jumps out and scares the feathers off your wings. There's just something wrong here, Byakuren, and I don't know what. Like... Something that doesn't belong. And it's giving me a BAD feeling."
-
>Hm. People on the bus could smell it, but if only Lily can in this instance...
>"Are you still at the CRA building?"
-
>Hm. People on the bus could smell it, but if only Lily can in this instance...
>"Are you still at the CRA building?"
>Highly suspicious...
>"Yeah, the main lobby. Komeji-san wanted a word with Marigold without her chaperones."
-
>Highly suspicious...
>"Yeah, the main lobby. Komeji-san wanted a word with Marigold without her chaperones."
>"I'll be there as soon as I can. Keep me updated."
-
>After hanging up, turn to Kiku.
<"Change of plans. The enemy may already be making another move. I need to get to the CRA immediately. If you want to talk, you'll need to come with me."
>We'll probably need to turn back to normal, won't we? It's unlikely we'll be able to hold the transformation for the entire trip.
-
>"I'll be there as soon as I can. Keep me updated."
>"Will do."
>After hanging up, turn to Kiku.
<"Change of plans. The enemy may already be making another move. I need to get to the CRA immediately. If you want to talk, you'll need to come with me."
>You think Kiku cringes for a blink of an eye, then nods. "WE need to get there." she says with some conviction.
>"Then I'll take you there myself." Ran interjects from behind. "Doubles, take care of these people and put the store back in order." The aging oni tosses her a salute, after which Ran turns her back back to you and Kiku, pointing to an elevator on the north wall.
>We'll probably need to turn back to normal, won't we? It's unlikely we'll be able to hold the transformation for the entire trip.
>That would seem to be a reasonable assumption, though it would depend on how quickly it takes you to get there. Lily may have taken an hour to get to where you are, but she was likely limited by bus schedules, and a reluctance to leave Marigold, especially if whatever trouble is brewing there has been there for a while. You seem to have other options available to you.
-
>Enter the elevator.
>Purpose? Are you still there? How much longer can I hold the transformation for without suffering any ill effects?
-
>Enter the elevator.
>Purpose? Are you still there? How much longer can I hold the transformation for without suffering any ill effects?
>Taking Ran up on her offer, you cross the sales floor with Kiku following behind you. Doubles calls to Ran as she presses the button for the lift, "Ye sure ye won't need me help?" "I need you here more, Doubles." the kitsune replies. "Get yourself back in order, then take care of these people. You know your job. And contact me if there's anymore signs of trouble."
>The lift doors open, and you climb aboard, Kiku and Ran behind you. Ran pushes the button labeled B2, the doors close, and the lift moves downward.
>The voice takes a few seconds before responding. I am not certain. This is your second time in your Magical Lotus guise, and some time has passed since you took up the mantle, so your body should be more used to handling that kind of energy. Plus, you used a lot more energy this time around, and your body's been using more of that energy to heal yourself after that battle. It should be some time before you start to feel any kind of consequence, but I can't say how long exactly.
>And how did you know what I am?
-
>I had an enlightening conversation with the Metal Tiger.
>Purpose, I must apologize for the way I acted during our last meeting. You were right; nobody was killed, and I only expelled what was added. I'm sorry I didn't believe you.
>"Let's start with you, Kiku. I didn't think there was anyone except me who could fight such an enemy so effectively. How did you gain such power?"
>"You seem as though you may in fact know a few things about what we're facing that I do not. Could I ask you to tell me what you know?"
-
>I had an enlightening conversation with the Metal Tiger.
>Purpose, I must apologize for the way I acted during our last meeting. You were right; nobody was killed, and I only expelled what was added. I'm sorry I didn't believe you.
>"Let's start with you, Kiku. I didn't think there was anyone except me who could fight such an enemy so effectively. How did you gain such power?"
>"You seem as though you may in fact know a few things about what we're facing that I do not. Could I ask you to tell me what you know?"
>The Tiger.... Yes. Yes, it would know what I am. But how did you come into contact with it? It was destroyed ages ago, before even the creation of the barrier.
>It was understandable. You were in a situation that must have seemed fantastic, nearly unbelievable, and in considerable pain, as well. In truth, I may have been at fault as well. I had not communicated with a mortal in thousands of your years, before that day. I may not have done an adequate job explaining what was happening. I shall endeavor to do better.
>Kiku takes a moment to answer your question. She seems uncomfortable about the topic. "It is my duty. I demonstrated the ability to channel the powers of the Gods after- I came to live at the temple years ago. I have been training ever since."
>"There have always been malevolent spirits in this world; ghosts, natural manifestations, amalgams of spirits and emotions." A short burst of breath escapes her nostrils. "By some definitions, certain youkai would qualify as 'malevolent spirits'. In fact, there was a time when that belief was common."
>"We have come a long way." Ran observes, her tone strange and distant. Kiku gives her head a brief shake. "Many have." she says quietly, before looking back up at you. "I have studied many types of creatures and spirits that we of the Four Temples have been called upon to battle over the years, encountered only a few of them. But what I sensed today, here, was alien to me. I.. was not certain my magic would even affect it."
-
>Let us consider it forgotten.
>"Alien is the best word for it. The one controlling that is an alien being, from a world and dimension removed from our own. One that has been sealed away for some millenia and forgotten. As I understand it, the last time they were seen was several thousand years ago."
-
>Let us consider it forgotten.
>"Alien is the best word for it. The one controlling that is an alien being, from a world and dimension removed from our own. One that has been sealed away for some millenia and forgotten. As I understand it, the last time they were seen was several thousand years ago."
>How did you come into contact with the Metal Tiger?
>"Not exactly." Ran interrupts, before Kiku can reply. "The last time those demons were in this world was five hundred years ago."
-
>"I suppose I misremembered an order of magnitude. I've been hoping to find more about that event, though..."
-
>"I suppose I misremembered an order of magnitude. I've been hoping to find more about that event, though..."
>"Oh, there's a lot you could learn about the one five hundred years ago. A lot of it's a matter of public record."
>Kiku looks at her questioningly, then a shocked expression spreads across her face. "You don't mean-"
>"I do. The first Lunarian invasion."
>With a ping, the doors of the elevator slide open, revealing a subterranean parking structure. Ran steps out and looks around. "It's clear."
-
>It came into contact with me.
>Follow that fox!
>"Are you suggesting they took advantage of that situation, or something else entirely?"
-
>It came into contact with me.
>Follow that fox!
>"Are you suggesting they took advantage of that situation, or something else entirely?"
>Yourself and the feline miko step out of the elevator and fall into step behind Ran, as she heads towards a sleek-looking 4-door indigo-colored car, although you don't recognize the make or model. In her own clearly marked parking space, of course.
>"It's possible they instigated the whole war. Or perhaps they simply tried to turn that age of barbarism to their own advantage. I honestly don't know." She produces her keys and deactivates the car's alarm. "But they were here. At least their youma were here." Another push of a button, and the car's doors unlock. Ran pauses for a moment to lift what seems to be a takeout menu from under her windshield wiper before opening her door. Kiku opens the rear driver side for you.
-
>Hop in.
>"It would be interesting to find how they did it."
-
>Hop in.
>"It would be interesting to find how they did it."
>You slide in the back seat of Ran's car. Comfy seats.
>"How they did what?" Ran asks as she embarks, Kiku getting in the back seat on the passenger's side seconds later.
-
>"How they managed to get involved at all. And if they are pulling strings in any manner, like you suggested, how that did that."
-
>"How they managed to get involved at all. And if they are pulling strings in any manner, like you suggested, how that did that."
>Ran starts her car.
>"I'm afraid I don't have those answers, at least not completely. All I really know is what they were doing when I saw them, for whatever my personal experiences are worth. You've probably read in sch-"
>"Now wait a minute." Kiku interrupts the businesswoman as she pulls out and drives towards the parking garage exit. "The temples were stronger then than they are now, and our records stretch back millenia, and there's no mention of otherworldy involvement in the first Lunar war."
-
>"It may be that that never reached the temples? Or perhaps the records have been lost or excised?"
-
>Purpose, were they indeed involved in those events five hundred years ago? And if so, do you know in what way they were involved?
-
>"It may be that that never reached the temples? Or perhaps the records have been lost or excised?"
>"I guess it's possible..." Kiku muses, still seeming unnerved about the idea. "A number of things were lost in the destruction of the three temples 54 years ago... But excised? Impossible."
>"Or perhaps the Temples didn't fully understand what they were facing." Ran conjectures as she pulls out onto the street. "If the mikos only faced the youma employed by the Lunarians or their collaborators, they might have assumed they were dealing with some kind of Lunar magic unknown to them. As a matter of fact, I thought that was the case myself, until I saw a young witch on our side turn her two housecats into youma and sic them on a squad of Moon-rabbits."
>Kiku still doesn't seem entirely pleased at the idea that her order had no idea what they were truly up against. "I'll advise my superior that we should check our records, when I return to the temple."
>Purpose, were they indeed involved in those events five hundred years ago? And if so, do you know in what way they were involved?
>If my knowledge of your timeframes is correct, yes, that would be the last time they broke though myself into your world. Their purpose then was as it is now: to destroy the seal surrounding their world, and infest this world as they did in ages past.
-
>"They were involved. I know that, although I do not know what all they did."
>How were they stopped last time?
-
>"They were involved. I know that, although I do not know what all they did."
>"Whatever they were doing, they were playing both sides. We never had any hint that there was a third force at work, until near the end of the war."
>"These youma started off as tools of the Lunarians, stayed that way for years, as far as I know. We thought it was just a magic we didn't possess. And they were dangerous, I saw a lot tougher youma than that one back there. They could drain the energy out of people and equipment with a touch."
>How were they stopped last time?
>In all times previous to this, someone from your side was able to reach through the seal and bring the demons into this world. This allows the demons to establish a foothold, an anchor, in your world. When this individual was killed, the foothold was lost, and the demons were all pulled back into their world.
>I'm afraid that won't help you this time, however. The demons have no such foothold.
-
>"I fought one that could do that, but only slowly. And it was poorly made, too; much easier to defeat than the one we just fought."
>"The youma likely aided the Lunarians because whoever brought this force forth was probably a Lunarian. In all previous attacks, the enemy has accessed this world via being summoned. In such cases, killing the summoner was enough to end the threat. This time, however, is different, as there is no such summoner."
-
>"I fought one that could do that, but only slowly. And it was poorly made, too; much easier to defeat than the one we just fought."
>"The youma likely aided the Lunarians because whoever brought this force forth was probably a Lunarian. In all previous attacks, the enemy has accessed this world via being summoned. In such cases, killing the summoner was enough to end the threat. This time, however, is different, as there is no such summoner."
>"So, their creations are getting stronger." Kiku nods. "I'll be more prepared next time."
>As you sketch the other two women in on what the Purpose told you, and your own theory on the matter, Ran half turns her head back to look at you, surprise clearly evident on her face. "How do you know that?"
>In almost the same moment, Kiku voices, "How could you possibly know that?"
-
>"I have my contacts. It would take a long time to explain, so please just trust me for now."
-
>"I have my contacts. It would take a long time to explain, so please just trust me for now."
>A wise decision. the Purpose approves. My existence would be hard to explain, and difficult to accept for many.
>Incidentally, you probably should keep that meeting of yours with the Metal Tiger to yourself, as well. I remember the emotion of jealousy from my last time in this world, and those that venerate the Tiger would probably not be too happy about an outsider meeting their god, whether she be Hero or no.
>I must know, how did you meet the Tiger?
-
>As I said, it came into contact with me. I was lead to it in the forest outside of its shrine.
-
>As I said, it came into contact with me. I was lead to it in the forest outside of its shrine.
>But the Tiger was destroyed ages ago. How was this possible?
>Ran nods slowly. "I'm prepared to give you the benefit of the doubt."
>Kiku, however, seems much less than satisfied. She says nothing, however, for the moment.
-
>I couldn't tell you. I was not aware it had been destroyed to begin with. It certainly seemed to be doing alright for itself.
>"Thank you."
-
>I couldn't tell you. I was not aware it had been destroyed to begin with. It certainly seemed to be doing alright for itself.
>"Thank you."
I know it's been months, but, the Tiger stated that it was a ghost, a pale shadow. That it had died ages ago, though it did not say how, or why. This was referenced back on page 11 and 12 of thread one. It said that you were speaking with an echo, a memory, of the creature it once was.
-
Oh right. I forgot that it blatantly said that. Sorry, mate. =I
>Replace that first part with (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EKgRtLwL0uM&feature=plcp&context=C39d5b9cUDOEgsToPDskLYW-YJtM0HtEeULsft4g9T): Thinking on it, I believed it mentioned it was just a shadow of its former self. I assume it was some sort of ghost, in light of what you've told me?
-
Oh right. I forgot that it blatantly said that. Sorry, mate. =I
>Replace that first part with (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EKgRtLwL0uM&feature=plcp&context=C39d5b9cUDOEgsToPDskLYW-YJtM0HtEeULsft4g9T): Thinking on it, I believed it mentioned it was just a shadow of its former self. I assume it was some sort of ghost, in light of what you've told me?
No worries, bro. It HAS been months, after all. I'd lay odds there are details I'd forgotten, as well.
>Ghost.... Ah, yes, a lingering remnant of something deceased. Yes, that would make sense. I remember encountering that phenomenon the last time I was here. A being of that power could well leave something behind, after its death. And it may have insight I would not, being terrestrial. What did it tell you?
>Ran continues, "Since you seem to have some answers, perhaps you could settle an old curiousity of mine.... Come to think of it, I don't believe we've been introduced, any of us. I am Ran Yakumo, founder, owner and president of Yakumo Jewelers' Worldwide."
-
>"I would like it if you did not spread my name in connection with this event, both of you. It would things much easier."
>Once both agree, introduce ourself.
-
>"I would like it if you did not spread my name in connection with this event, both of you. It would things much easier."
>Once both agree, introduce ourself.
>Ran nods. "I can respect that." Kiku maintains her silence.
>Since you are still in your transformed state, did you wish to ID yourself as Magical Lotus, or Byakuren Hijiri?
-
>Well, the former is not really a name or useful identification...
>"Kiku?"
-
>Well, the former is not really a name or useful identification...
>"Kiku?"
>It is a title, apparently. Although, The Purpose is the only one who has directly referred to you as such. It could serve well enough if you wish to keep your true name concealed, at least from those you do not implicitly trust.
>The silver-skirted miko exhales slowly, then turns her head away from you to look out the window. "I can understand the desire to keep one's identity secret."
-
>Nod. "It's just easier if it's harder for our enemies to learn about us, which is why I have no intention of just causally mentioning that you were here. I am Byakuren Hijiri."
-
>Nod. "It's just easier if it's harder for our enemies to learn about us, which is why I have no intention of just causally mentioning that you were here. I am Byakuren Hijiri."
>"Wait." Kiku cuts you off as you get to the second syllable of your name, still not looking at you. "What you say makes sense. The less we know of each other, the less likelihood our enemies will learn anything of us FROM us." She finally turns her head to look at you out of the corner of her eye, her expression dark. "I don't know how you know my name, and Yakumo-san obviously doesn't share my reservations. But I do not know your name, nor should I. Should WE." she corrects herself to include Ran. "I will consent that a sharing of information, of aid, between us will be beneficial. But I don't need to know who you are."
-
>"In that case, you may refer to me as 'Magical Lotus'. Or simply 'Lotus', if you prefer."
-
>"In that case, you may refer to me as 'Magical Lotus'. Or simply 'Lotus', if you prefer."
>Ran gives you a quick smile before turning her eyes (which seemed to carry an amused look) back to the road. Kiku nods, much more slowly.
>"And now, Lotus," Kiku speaks in a very measured tone, "while I would like to know how you knew my name, I believe Yakumo-san was asking you something?"
>"Ah, yes." The kitsune replies. "Thank you for reminding me. About those youma. During the war, I'd assumed for the longest time that their energy syphoning powers were just one of their sources of offense. But later, I fought one of their masters on OUR side that seemed to hint that there was another reason behind this, that the stolen energy had another purpose. But we never found out what."
-
>"From what I understand, the one who made that youma, as well as the youma I fought a few days ago, is currently weak, and is attempting to restore its power."
>Do you know anything beyond that?
-
>"From what I understand, the one who made that youma, as well as the youma I fought a few days ago, is currently weak, and is attempting to restore its power."
>Do you know anything beyond that?
>"That might explain why this youma was much stronger, as you say, than the last one." Ran replies. "If that other youma had gathered some energy before you destroy... Sorry, purified it, then its creator could have recharged itself. But that doesn't explain what happened during the war. The creators of the youma I fought didn't use any energy from them, not the last time I fought them."
>In the past, much of the energy gathered by the demons and their tools was collected by the Anchor, the Foothold, to be used as a weapon to shatter the Seal, and release the demons still on the other side. The remainder of this stolen energy was sent back through the seal. But there is no anchor this time, and I have not sensed more energy than previous times sent back through the portal, after your defeat of the last youma. If the Bat has not consumed all that energy herself... Without an anchor, I am not certain what she would have done with it.
-
>"In the past, the energy was being collected for use in shattering the seal so that they could enter this world freely. But that's not happening this time, because while in the past they were summoned here, the one we face now has somehow made it to this world without a summoning. So either it's consuming the energy itself, or it's using it for a purpose I do not know."
>Where is the portal?
-
>"In the past, the energy was being collected for use in shattering the seal so that they could enter this world freely. But that's not happening this time, because while in the past they were summoned here, the one we face now has somehow made it to this world without a summoning. So either it's consuming the energy itself, or it's using it for a purpose I do not know."
>Where is the portal?
>"Are you saying someone in OUR world brought this force to Earth last time?" Ran asks. For her part, Kiku doesn't seem entirely surprised. Ran continues, "That doesn't make a lot of sense. The Lunarians had every advantage over us without those youma. And they were using youma before Terrans were. It was overkill."
>"Perhaps they were tricked by these otherworlders." Kiku muses. "The forces of darkness could well fool a Lunarian as easily as a Terran."
>I am unfamiliar with the term 'portal'.
-
>Perhaps I misunderstood you. WHen you said the energy was sent back, I assumed that meant there was a point of connection it was being sent through.
>Do you know at what location the being entered this world?
-
>Perhaps I misunderstood you. WHen you said the energy was sent back, I assumed that meant there was a point of connection it was being sent through.
>Do you know at what location the being entered this world?
>Ah, a rift. The term 'portal' was unknown to me. Well, the great Seal encompasses the whole of this world and its moon. There was no one place where it was sent back to the sealed realm; it depended on each demon and their location.
>I am afraid that my knowledge of terminology of this side is still limited, but I will do my best to answer in terms you know. The first demon, the Bat, pierced the seal somewhere in the city, near the center of the city, close to a... I believe the term is 'fountain'. This may refer to the Marian Saigyouji memorial fountain/statue, said to be in the geographic center of new Mayoiga. The seal is thin there.
>The second demon did so in a larger body of water, a lake, outside of town.
-
>A second? But both youma I faced were made by the same one...
>Wait. Is the second one the one I'm about to be up against?
-
>A second? But both youma I faced were made by the same one...
>Wait. Is the second one the one I'm about to be up against?
>I believe this to be the case. It is unlikely the Bat would have had the power to make two youma, unless the one at your current destination is weak, incomplete, like the first one you fought.
>I confess, I was not expecting another demon to follow the Bat so soon afterwards. More time past between summonings in previous invasions.
>"The Terrans that used youma," Kiku asks Ran while you converse with the Purpose, "They used them against the Lunarians only?"
>"At first. Always at first. But their allegience, and their sanity for that matter, seemed to slip as time wore on. That was true for the Lunarian youma-masters, as well. Nearly all of them, anyway. We assumed it was a consequence of the youma-sorcery at first, but we got hints at something even more sinister at work as time passed."
>"Otherworldly corruption?"
>"Seems plausable."
-
>"That would be my guess, as well. The 'youma-masters' were not actually the youma's masters; they merely summoned the ones who made the youma. And those summoned demons likely had their own agendas."
-
>"That would be my guess, as well. The 'youma-masters' were not actually the youma's masters; they merely summoned the ones who made the youma. And those summoned demons likely had their own agendas."
>"Like freeing the rest of their kind, it seems. And Terrans and Lunarians did make their own youma, for their own purposes... All KINDS of purposes..." Ran trails off. "But even in this, it's possible these 'demons', you called them, could have been using those people even then."
>"Have you any idea how many we're up against?" Kiku asks you. "There can't be too many, of their presence would be common knowledge by now."
-
>"Right now, no more than a handful. I think it's only two or so. The problem is when more come. As you both saw, just from the youma they made, that they are not to be trifled with."
-
>"Right now, no more than a handful. I think it's only two or so. The problem is when more come. As you both saw, just from the youma they made, that they are not to be trifled with."
>"Have you confronted any of them, or merely their weapons?"
-
>"Not yet, no."
-
>"I have spoken with one after purifying its first youma, but I have only fought the youma."
-
>"I have spoken with one after purifying its first youma, but I have only fought the youma."
>make that briefly spoken
-
>"Not yet, no."
>"I have spoken with one after purifying its first youma, but I have only fought the youma."
>"That could mean it was afraid to face you."
>"It's not impossible." Ran adds. "Some otherworldly forces aren't dissimilar from your schoolyard bully, in that regard. They fear people that stand up to them, especially when those people prove they can stand up to them successfully."
-
>"It is possible, but I think it would be a poor idea to assume it."
-
>"It is possible, but I think it would be a poor idea to assume it."
>"Agreed." Kiku concurs. "Since these beings have been here before, and been stopped before, we shouldn't assume two of their youma being destroyed will scare them."
>"I have to ask, Lotus." she asks you, still not looking right at you. "I'm still not certain what a 'youma' actually is. Nor am I clear, exactly, what you did to it to make become that... locket, was it?"
-
>"I have only kind of an idea, myself. Perhaps you could tell us what you know, Miss Yakumo? You seem to be familiar with them."
-
>"I have only kind of an idea, myself. Perhaps you could tell us what you know, Miss Yakumo? You seem to be familiar with them."
>"I had a lot of hands-on experience with them, yeah. On both sides." She checks her gps on the car's dashboard. "We'll be there soon, but I'll fill in as much as I can before we arrive." You note Kiku take a very deep, slow breath, as Ran continues.
>"The basic type of youma is a normal item- a pot, a suit of armor, a bow, whatever have you- that's been infused by a core of dark power. This mutates the item, turns it into a youma. A youma built well enough can act on its own, act independantly of its creator. And they can have all kinds of forms, too: humanoid, feline, canine, things that never had names. I'm not sure if this depended on the item changed, the person or demon creating the youma, or both. And until this day, I didn't know it was possible to destroy a youma without destroying the item that was changed."
>Ran's voice drops a little, somehow becoming much more forboding. "Of course, that's just your basic youma. The really bad ones were the youma created from living things.
-
>"Let me guess, people who fell to their darker emotions and took in a core?"
-
>"Let me guess, people who fell to their darker emotions and took in a core?"
>"Good guess. But in my experience, the people and animals that were changed into youma didn't have much choice in the matter, whether they were good people or bad." You see the kitsune's hands tighten their grip on the steering wheel. "If I live for five thousand years, I'll never forget that sight. The sound. Those horrible screams..." Kiku swallows heavily before Ran continues. "People and animals that were... corrupted, tended to be faster, stronger, tougher than objects. And had no more choice than objects. No more control over themselves. They were turned into weapons, used. ... I wish we'd had you back then, Magical Lotus. We might have saved a few more lives."
-
>"I hope that they shall be the last victims."
-
>"I hope that they shall be the last victims."
>"I hope you're right. But... it's going take more than hope to win."
>The car drives past a large sign that reads "Center for Recently Ascended."
>"But if you have to face a youma like that, now or later, be prepared. They're in another league of power from the one you just beat."
-
>"The CRA. That's where my friend is. And where the enemy is. Find a place to pull up, please."
>Attempt to speak to Lily through the ring.
>"Hello? Can you hear me? Oh, and don't use my name."
-
>"The CRA. That's where my friend is. And where the enemy is. Find a place to pull up, please."
>Attempt to speak to Lily through the ring.
>"Hello? Can you hear me? Oh, and don't use my name."
>"I know." Ran slows down as she makes a left turn, towards the main entrance of the building. It is a four-story tall structure, fairly rectangular in shape, with a pair of flags flying atop its roof; the flag of Yamato, and the family crest of the Saigyouji's.
>Your othersight, however, reveals the same kind of malignant aura radiating out from the building as there was from Ran's.
>Raising your ring up towards your lips, you call out for Lily without invoking her name. As though beckoned, her face appears in the jewel on your ring. Even if you weren't outside the CRA building, you have a sense that she is close to you.
>"Lotus? I can feel you, you're close."
>Kiku gives you a somewhat questioning look.
-
>Look at Kiku.
>"An ally. We can communicate through our rings."
>To Lily: "Ran and Kiku are with me. Kiku in particular would rather not know who we are, so I'll meet you by myself first."
>Tell her where we're parked.
>"Get somewhere close and tell me where you are. I'll come to you."
-
>Look at Kiku.
>"An ally. We can communicate through our rings."
>To Lily: "Ran and Kiku are with me. Kiku in particular would rather not know who we are, so I'll meet you by myself first."
>Tell her where we're parked.
>"Get somewhere close and tell me where you are. I'll come to you."
>"There's another with powers like yours?" Kiku replies. You think you detect a note of irritation in her voice.
>"Kiku?" Lily blurts. "What's Kiku doing with you? She get one of these rings, too?"
>As Ran pulls up by the front door of the building, you relay your poisition to her. Her image nods in your jewel. "I'm in the main lobby, just inside. It's just me and the receptionist in here."
-
So, how are we going to keep Kiku from recognizing Lily and working out who we are? Also what are we going to do about ditching Eagle like we did?
In regards to the latter, think we can send Ran after her?
-
Yes. As for Kiku, I'm assuming Lily can transform like we can.
>"I'll be right back."
>Get out of the car and enter the building.
-
>"I'll be right back."
>Get out of the car and enter the building.
>Ran gives you a nod.
>Exiting the kitsune's car, you come around the vehicle, and walk up the short tree-bordered path to the front door of the CRA. As before, at Ran's, you can sense a barrier of sorts around the building, and the door seems to stick in place. It opens outwards, slowly, like someone's trying to pull it shut. As you walk in, it feels like you're walking through a waterfall. A filthy, brackish waterfall.
>Even before you take stock of the room before you, the foul stench Lily mentioned assaults your nose. It smells like the wrong end of a swamp, like mold and fungus, stagnant water and decaying plants. But it's more that just a physical smell, it assaults your mind almost as much as your nose. A 'psychic scent', for want of a better term. You suppress a gag, to the best of your abilities.
>The main lobby is a fairly spacious room, and rather bare, with a plain tile floor. A large desk is on the north wall, manned by a woman with long, curly copper-colored hair. To your left and right of the desk are elevators. The desk has a Saigyouji crest emblazoned in the middle of it. A simple dull red carpet leads up to the desk from the front door, not showing many signs of wear.
>A large picture of the town's founder, Hatori Saigyouji, hangs on the west wall. There are three doors on the west wall; two closer to you, male and female bathrooms, and one closer to the desk, a glowing green exit sign hanging over it. A marble statue of a woman with wings, wearing a simple gown and a pleasant smile, is in the northwest corner.
>The east wall has one door in it, a large double door in the middle of the wall. To either side of this door are chairs, five on each side. A small table with magazines is present in the middle of both rows. Lily White is currently the only person sitting in these chairs, her head tilted down slightly, her expression like one that's enduring a horrible smell for the sake of politeness. A grey stone statue of a man with feline ears and tail, wearing simple clothes and a shy smile, is in the northeast corner.
-
>Head over to Lily.
>"I'm here. Are you okay?"
>"Where's Marigold?"
-
>Head over to Lily.
>"I'm here. Are you okay?"
>"Where's Marigold?"
>Lily raises her head at the sound of someone approaching her, then smiles when she sees it is you.
>She takes note of the expression on your own face. "You can smell it, too? Good, then it isn't just me."
>Lily jerks her thumb towards the double door to her right. "The councilor wanted to talk to her in private. It's funny, y'know. Satori-sama never once mentioned her sister works here."
-
>Does it seem like anyone is watching those doors?
-
>Does it seem like anyone is watching those doors?
>All doors appear to be unguarded from the outside, and you see no sign of guards on the inside. The only other person you can see is the copper-haired receptionist.
-
>Can we sense anything beyond the door?
-
>Can we sense anything beyond the door?
>The malignant sensation suffuses the area beyond the door, but in no greater concentration than in this room.
-
>Is there a window? If so, peer through it.
-
>"Lily, Kiku would rather not know who we are. I would assume you can transform like I can, and while you may still be able to recognize me, others are not. The same likely holds true for you, so I would recommend transforming now. You'll need to do so to fight, anyways. Just think about doing it, and you should know how to."
-
>"I'll explain about Kiku later."
-
>Is there a window? If so, peer through it.
>The double doors have a small rectangular window in each door, and you peer through into the area beyond. A long corridor stretches out that way, about 12 or 13 feet wide. The walls are tan and brown, the tile floor bare. The are white doors on either side, some closed, but more are open. There does not appear to be anyone on guard duty, but there are people present, humans and youkai. There are no uniforms present, but the humans all appear to be wearing black and yellow armbands on their right wrists. A young woman stands outside one of the closed doors, writing on a clipboard. A man and a winged youkai female are walking towards the far end of the hallway. A rather muscular bald man with dark eyes is walking towards the door you are standing behind. He does not seem to have taken notice of you.
>"Lily, Kiku would rather not know who we are. I would assume you can transform like I can, and while you may still be able to recognize me, others are not. The same likely holds true for you, so I would recommend transforming now. You'll need to do so to fight, anyways. Just think about doing it, and you should know how to."
>She nods in understanding. "I know what you mean. When I got thinking about this bad feeling, and how it might be something really bad, words came to me. I can transform whenever we need, but..." She jerks her head towards the receptionist. "Kinda don't wanna do that in front of a witness, y'know?"
>"I'll explain about Kiku later."
>"Okay...." Lily still sounds curious.
-
>"Let's go elsewhere, then."
>Find a bathroom. There probaboy won't be anyone else in there.
-
>Stray far from the door, unless Dr. Baldman is coming for us.
>Do get out of the way of it.
-
>"Let's go elsewhere, then."
>Find a bathroom. There probaboy won't be anyone else in there.
>Stray far from the door, unless Dr. Baldman is coming for us.
>Do get out of the way of it.
>Lily rises from her seat. "I was right, wasn't I?" she asks you quietly.
>The female bathroom is on the west side of the room, and you and Lily make your way over to it, giving a wide berth to the double doors and the large bald man on the other side of them.
>The female bathroom is a decent sized room, with five stalls in evidence along the east wall, and three sinks. A large mirror covers half the west wall.
-
>"I'll give you the short version, I ran into a youma at Yakumo Jewelers. It's been dealt with; I was right in thinking that someone was going to target that necklace. It's seeming more and more likely that the one who made that Youma and the one that made the first one are not one and the same. Aside from the odor, what have you noticed here?"
-
>No, the one who made that youma pretty much said it made the first one. It's the enemy here that's different. So instead say: "I'll give you the short version. I ran into a youma at Yakumo Jewelers. It's been dealt with; I was right in thinking that someone was going to target that necklace. I think a different enemy is responsible for whatever's happening here, though. Aside from the odor, what have you noticed here?"
-
>No, the one who made that youma pretty much said it made the first one. It's the enemy here that's different. So instead say: "I'll give you the short version. I ran into a youma at Yakumo Jewelers. It's been dealt with; I was right in thinking that someone was going to target that necklace. I think a different enemy is responsible for whatever's happening here, though. Aside from the odor, what have you noticed here?"
>You give Lily the compressed version of the events at Yakumo's. Her expression leaves you the impression she has much curiosity about what's left unsaid, but she elects not to speak on them, for the moment.
>"Well, nothing seems out of the ordinary here. The people here are polite, helpful, like the always are. Haven't heard any of them talk about anything that's seemed odd, just business as usual. But there's definitely something odd going on here; I can feel it. My wings feel... heavy. Like they're wet. No one else seems to notice, but I sure can."
>"I thought you said Kiku was with you?"
-
>"She is. She and Ran are outside. Kiku does not want to know who we truly are, so that the information cannot be learned from her. If you transform, she should be unaware of who you are, so we will return to her once you have done so."
-
>"She is. She and Ran are outside. Kiku does not want to know who we truly are, so that the information cannot be learned from her. If you transform, she should be unaware of who you are, so we will return to her once you have done so."
>"But what's she doing here with you? Or Ran, either? Did you give them rings, too?"
-
>"No. Ran is powerful enough to fight these things already, although she cannot strike at the darkness like we can. She could have simply destroyed the youma we fought, but did not want to because of how much the object means to Chen. As for Kiku, I'm not completely certain what the nature of her power is, only that it is somehow connected to the Metal Tiger."
>"Ran was already fighting the youma when I arrived. Kiku showed up after I did and lended her assistance."
-
>"No. Ran is powerful enough to fight these things already, although she cannot strike at the darkness like we can. She could have simply destroyed the youma we fought, but did not want to because of how much the object means to Chen. As for Kiku, I'm not completely certain what the nature of her power is, only that it is somehow connected to the Metal Tiger."
>"Ran was already fighting the youma when I arrived. Kiku showed up after I did and lended her assistance."
>"Kiku had that kind of power?" Lily looks stunned. "I worked at the shrine for months, but, I had no idea. Well, she never talks about herself anyway, but, you'd think...." Lily trails off, then shakes her head. "Well, if she didn't say anything about it, she had her reasons. And if she can help, even better. But, if she wants to see Lily the hero, then Lily the hero she gets!"
>Lily raises her right arm over her head, and calls out, "Lily Purity Ascension!" The winged girl's body is suffused in a brilliant violet light, and ribbons of white and lavender energy weave their way around her. The ribbons wrap around her hands, and the light disapears in a flair of flower petals, revealing a pair of white gloves with a red band near the end, and a cherry blossom on the back of both. Similarly colored boots appear on her feet, a red ribbon with a bow encircling her heels. The light around her torso yields a long sleeved white dress, with a big red bow at its collar, with a fairly short skirt. And she definitely has the legs to pull off the look. A stylized hairpin, shaped like a lily, appears in her hair, and a pale red belt encircles her waist.
>"Whoa...." Lily breathes as the light of her transformation fades. "That was.... pretty cool."
-
>Laugh.
>Does she look similar enough to herself, given that Kiku didn't seem to recognize us?
-
>Laugh.
>Does she look similar enough to herself, given that Kiku didn't seem to recognize us?
>Lily smiles broadly as you give her a bit of a laugh.
>To your eyes, she looks like Lily White in a different outfit. However, you yourself pretty much like Byakuren Hijiri in a different outfit. You're not entirely certain why Kiku didn't recognize you, having seen and spoken with you back at the western temple. But since she didn't recognize you, there's a solid chance she wouldn't be able to place Lily, either.
-
>"How do you feel? Can you sense anything new?"
-
>"How do you feel? Can you sense anything new?"
>"I feel great!" Her wings flare energetically at her statement, and she flexes her arms lightly. "Like I could fly circles around the moon, both ways, with you and Kyouko and Sakura on my back!" She darts past you to stand in front of the sink, examining herself in the mirror. "Oh, man, this is so cool. And this outfit is so cute! I look like the hero in a manga!" She turns her big blue eyes back to you. "And so do you! I didn't wanna say anything out there, but you look so cool, Bya.... I mean, Magical Lotus." She finishes, a grin on her face. "You can call me Magical Lily!" She holds up her fore and middle finger in a 'V' sign.
>Perhaps not the most... inconspicuous name that could have come to her, but, she obviously seems to like it.
-
>"That's very kind of you. Now, take a moment and try to open your senses to the world. Tell me if you can feel anything."
-
>"That's very kind of you. Now, take a moment and try to open your senses to the world. Tell me if you can feel anything."
>Lily laughs, sticking her tongue out slightly. "Yeah, I know, I know. Kinda got caught up in the moment there." She then takes a couple of breaths and closes her eye in concentration. Her face twists again. "I was right. Something's here. I can feel a.... darkness, here. It feels like... what I saw in that vision, back at the shrine."
-
>Put some effort into sensing as well, let us see if we can find more or if we can benefit from Lily trying as well.
-
>Put some effort into sensing as well, let us see if we can find more or if we can benefit from Lily trying as well.
>You stretch out your own ESP, trying to pool your resources with Lily's. The vile sense permeating this building, and the horrible smell that came with it, assaults your senses. But you and Lily together (the contact between you two produces a sweet, flowery scent, somehow) seem to indicate a sense of directionality to the vile aura. It seems to be emanating from below you.
-
>"Do you feel it below us?"
-
>"Do you feel it below us?"
>Lily nods slowly. "Place might have a basement." she speculates.
-
>"Then we need to get down there."
-
>"Then we need to get down there."
>Lily nods. "Kikuri would know if there is one. She's the receptionist. But if Kiku can help us, we should get her, first."
-
>"You ask Kikuri. I'll go fetch Kiku."
>Move out!
-
>"You ask Kikuri. I'll go fetch Kiku."
>Move out!
>"Gotcha."
>As you and Magical Lily depart the ladies' room, you hang a right while Lily goes left towards the desk.
>Exiting the building, you find Ran's car still present, with Kiku standing outside the car on the sidewalk, speaking to... Chie.
-
> whois Chie
-
>Chie would be the cat youkai who's still kinda new at this.
>Take a moment to observe them, does the conversation seem important? Do either of them seem anything other than relaxed or normally conversing?
-
> whois Chie
>Chie would be the cat youkai who's still kinda new at this.
>What he said.
>Take a moment to observe them, does the conversation seem important? Do either of them seem anything other than relaxed or normally conversing?
>Kiku's face is stern, but not severe. Then again, you've yet to see her look much else other than stern, severe or sour. But she looks no MORE stern now than she did when she was lecturing her fellow mikos back at the shrine.
>Chie, for her part, seems rather bright, a smile on her face. She seems to be doing most of the talking, and doesn't seem like one especially concerned or worried. It seems a fairly casual conversation, all in all.
-
>Approach them!
-
>Approach them!
>As you approach the pair of feline miko, Chie's face becomes a little less bright, and she seems to take a half-step backwards.
>"It's all right, sister." Kiku advises Chie, indicating you with a wave of her hand. "This is the one I told you of, the one who aided me."
>"You may speak freely, Lotus. My sister has no skill in onmyoji, but she is still a sister. I've told her of the events at Yakumo's."
-
>Nod toward her. "I am a friend, there's nothing to worry about."
>Look to Kiku. "My companion was right, there is something going on here. We are reasonably sure it is in the basement."
>"Would either of you know how to get down there? It would be best not to wander blindly if we can help it."
-
>Nod toward her. "I am a friend, there's nothing to worry about."
>Look to Kiku. "My companion was right, there is something going on here. We are reasonably sure it is in the basement."
>"Would either of you know how to get down there? It would be best not to wander blindly if we can help it."
>You words do not seem to have a tremendous obvious effect on the young catgirl, but she does at least stop retreating. "My sister is young, and unaccustomed to strangers. I ask you to forgive her that." She bows formally as she speaks. Even on the clock, she's proper.
>Kiku looks at Chie in expectation. The younger miko hesitates a few moments before responding, "Building has basement. Where they keep papers, papers on youkai that live there, lived there."
>"Records." Kiku sums up, which draws nods from Chie. "But," the pink-haired youkai continues. "Chie thinks that basement is always locked. Records... private. Not open to everyone."
-
>"We will have to get down there, regardless. Do either of you think you could convince the staff to allow it? In my case, I doubt I would come off as nothing more than a crazy person wanting to get where I shouldn't be with a wild story as an excuse."
-
>"We will have to get down there, regardless. Do either of you think you could convince the staff to allow it? In my case, I doubt I would come off as nothing more than a crazy person wanting to get where I shouldn't be with a wild story as an excuse."
>Chie seems uncertain. "Chie doesn't know. Never asked."
>Kiku says, "I have no more authority here than you, Lotus."
-
>"Then let us shift our methods. Kiku, your shrine has taken in many new youkai, such as Chie. You may be able to get access that we cannot. If nothing else, you can ask to be shown around the facility, and they may very well agree to this. One of us can accompany you. The other, I think, should check on Marigold. A demon in the place a former youma is seems fairly suspicious to me. She may be an objective."
-
The other, I think, should check on Marigold. A demon in the place a former youma is seems fairly suspicious to me. She may be an objective."
>Wait. Did Kiku or us ever mention marigold before? If knowing Kiku's name wasn't suspicious enough, knowing about marigold's name would basically be saying we're Byakuren?
-
Good point.
>Instead of the previous line, say this: "Then let us shift our methods. Kiku, your shrine has taken in many new youkai, such as Chie. You may be able to get access that we cannot. If nothing else, you can ask to be shown around the facility, and they may very well agree to this. One of us can accompany you. The other, I think, should check on our friend. A demon being where she is seems fairly suspicious. She may be an objective."
-
Good point.
>Instead of the previous line, say this: "Then let us shift our methods. Kiku, your shrine has taken in many new youkai, such as Chie. You may be able to get access that we cannot. If nothing else, you can ask to be shown around the facility, and they may very well agree to this. One of us can accompany you. The other, I think, should check on our friend. A demon being where she is seems fairly suspicious. She may be an objective."
>"And what friend would that be?" Kiku asks you before Chie can respond. "You suspect the demons have a specific target in mind?"
-
>"I'm not certain they do, but it is possible that they do. Or it is plausible that they are aiming for whatever they can."
-
>"I'm not certain they do, but it is possible that they do. Or it is plausible that they are aiming for whatever they can."
>Kiku seems somehow unsatisfied by your answer, but she says nothing about it. "Your idea is.... possible. It is not often that we have cause to check the records kept by the CRA of the youkai we take from them. And that would normally fall under Satori-sama's purview. Nevertheless, my status as eldersecondelder miko may allow me the same capacity. Failing that, however, there may be another option. Chie, how is the basement locked?"
>"Chie doesn't know. Never been there."
>Kiku considers that for a moment. "If the lock is conventional, it can be bypassed."
-
>"Bypassed how?"
-
>"Bypassed how?"
>"By a strong set of claws and a knowledge of lockpicking, possessed by a tiger youkai."
-
>What kind of youkai is Kiku?
-
>What kind of youkai is Kiku?
>She's a feline youkai of some sort. Her hair, tail and skin are marked with thin black stripes, somewhat more pronounced on her hair and tail. She's never stated explicitly what she is, but tiger youkai would be a very good guess.
-
>"Are you saying you could get us in?"
-
>"Are you saying you could get us in?"
>"Depending on if the locks down there are keyed. It wouldn't be my first choice, but if we have to, then I can."
>"But...." Chie says quietly, "Wouldn't that be... bad?"
>"Normally, Chie, I wouldn't even think about it. But if there is another evil spirit in the basement of that building, it's best that we confront it there. Before it threatens anyone else."
-
>Nod. "We share the same sentiments then."
-
>Nod. "We share the same sentiments then."
>Kiku seems somewhat pleased at your comment. "Of course, this may not even be necessary, Lotus. But if it becomes necessary, then you know our options."
>Chie takes a few steps closer to Kiku, a smile on her face. "Chie trusts Kiku to do what's right."
>Kiku gives the younger feline youkai a curious look. "Aren't you scared at all, Chie?"
>The pink-haired catgirl shakes her head. "I believe in you." The ghost of a smile passes across Kiku's face at Chie's simple words. And you feel, for a heartbeat, a flicker from your ring.
-
>...Maybe one of them is...? We'd better discuss this with Lily.
-
>FOcus on the ring. See if it can tell us which one it's reacting to.
-
>...Maybe one of them is...? We'd better discuss this with Lily.
>FOcus on the ring. See if it can tell us which one it's reacting to.
>The sensation was little more than flicker; your ring tells you no more, despite your focus. It definitely reacted to one of them- it may even have reacted to BOTH of them- but you can't be certain which.
-
>Definitely have to confer with Lily.
>"Shall we go then, Kiku?"
-
>"I suppose you should have a name to call my companion by. Hmm..."
>Appear thoughtful.
>"Well, let's go with a plant theme. I am Lotus, and she can be Lily."
>That foundation should deflect suspicion from recognizing the name.
-
>"I suppose you should have a name to call my companion by. Hmm..."
>Appear thoughtful.
>"Well, let's go with a plant theme. I am Lotus, and she can be Lily."
>That foundation should deflect suspicion from recognizing the name.
>Applying a little lateral thinking to Lily's title, you identify her to Kiku. Her expression is unchanging, but she does nod quietly. Chie, however, seems to buy it completely, as she asks you, "Lotus and Lily are flower youkai?"
>"We don't need to know that, Chie." Kiku admonishes her sister. Chie's ears and tail droop slightly. "Sorry, Kiku."
>Definitely have to confer with Lily.
>"Shall we go then, Kiku?"
>Lily will definitely be interested in that little flicker.
>The tiger youkai nods solemnly. "I am prepared."
-
>Look to Chie, "Don't worry, you did nothing wrong. But yes, for now it's best that you not know anything about me."
>Head inside and link up with Lily.
-
>Look to Chie, "Don't worry, you did nothing wrong. But yes, for now it's best that you not know anything about me."
>Head inside and link up with Lily.
>"Why?" Chie asks you as you and Kiku head back inside, following behind you.
>"Because, Chie, the less we, or more specifically, I, know about Lotus, the less information our enemies will be able to learn about her from me. And the same is true for her." Kiku informs her.
>"Oh. Kiku smart."
>Kiku lets another of those quiet breaths out. "Experienced, Chie. I've lived this life longer than you."
>Magical Lily is standing with her arms folded about halfway between the door and the desk, a contemplative look on her face. You note Kiku cough sharply as she enters the building, wrinkling her face as that vile stench floats across her nose. Chie, however, does not react at all.
-
>"Have you found anything, Lily?"
-
>"Have you found anything, Lily?"
>"The building does have a basement, Lotus. They use it for record keeping, mostly. But it's off limits to the public. Which includes us." She looks to your side to Kiku. To her credit, she doesn't give any outward sign of recognizing her, or Chie, for that matter. "You're the... ally Lotus here told me about?"
>"And you would be Lily." Kiku replies. She gives your partner a formal bow.
>"Oh, no need for that." Lily says casually. "We're all on the same side here." she adds with a smile.
-
>"I assume you couldn't convince them to make an exception. Where is the way in?"
-
>"I assume you couldn't convince them to make an exception. Where is the way in?"
>"She didn't say."
>Chie supplies, "Stairs. That door." She points at the door on the west wall marked 'exit'. "No elevator down."
-
What do you think, Guy? Do you think we could convince them to let us in via saying there's a Youma in there and citing current events and maybe having Ran vouch for us?
We could break in? But I'm kinda uncomfortable with that, given Byakuren. Or rather, I'm uncomfortable doing it without trying a civilized route first. The problem being that the civilized route has a chance of getting us in more problems.
-
Let's try habing Ran and Kiku talk our way in first. We can break in as a last resort.
-
>"We'll probably need Miss Yakumo's help to get in, then. Where is she?"
-
>"We'll probably need Miss Yakumo's help to get in, then. Where is she?"
>"What good would Yakumo-san be?" Kiku asks you
-
>"She has a reputation that we do not. In particular, there's a good chance that whomever we talk with will recognize her to some degree, and she can speak from personal experience about Youma, all of which would give us an air of legitimacy."
-
>"She has a reputation that we do not. In particular, there's a good chance that whomever we talk with will recognize her to some degree, and she can speak from personal experience about Youma, all of which would give us an air of legitimacy."
>"Makes sense. I don't know how much influence she would have here, if any, but she is well known about town, and she does have more experience with the enemy than we do." She points back towards the door with her thumb. "She got a call from her store while you were inside first, I assume from that oni. Since I didn't hear her pull away before we came inside, I assume she's still out there."
-
>Nod.
>"Alright. I'll be back with her in a moment."
>Outside!
-
>Nod.
>"Alright. I'll be back with her in a moment."
>Outside!
>Taking a temporary leave of your allies, you step outside to retrieve another one. To your disappointment, however, you note a distinct absence of either her or her car.
-
>Look around. Head toward a parking area if we see one.
-
>Look around. Head toward a parking area if we see one.
>A scan of the streets around you reveals no sign of the kitsune's car, but the building does have parking lots, on the west side of the building. You jog over to get a better view of its contents. Most of the vehicles contained therein are much more basic-looking cards than Ran's was, and a couple of motorcycles. In fact, you recognize one bike in particular - a old Kirisame Master Spark with star patterns on its chassis and exaust. That's Marissa's bike. But there is no sign of Ran's car anywhere.
-
>Another bystamder, not a good thing...
>Jog back to the group and explain. Omit Marisa for now, her being in the area doesn't imply she's at all involved.
-
>Another bystamder, not a good thing...
>Jog back to the group and explain. Omit Marisa for now, her being in the area doesn't imply she's at all involved.
>That's all you need, one more person in harm's way. Let alone someone you care about. But there's no need to specifically mention her being here to the troops. Her presence is likely incidental, anyway. You know she volunteers here, and has for some time. Probably just her day.
>You return to Lily and the others, to find Lily and Chie talking quietly. Kiku has gone up to the receptionist and is engaged in conversation with her.
-
>Oh, if she volunteers here...
>Can we hear what Kiku and the receptionist are talking about?
-
>Oh, if she volunteers here...
>Can we hear what Kiku and the receptionist are talking about?
>She does. And enjoys it, too.
>Faintly. Both Kiku and the receptionist, Kikuri, are keeping their voices somewhat low. You catch Kikuri saying something about 'have to talk to....'
-
>Approach them! Try to catch what they are saying before we get there.
-
>Approach them! Try to catch what they are saying before we get there.
>"... acceptable." You catch from Kiku as you walk towards the pair. "We would rather have this taken care of today, so, as soon as he is able?"
>You see Kikuri nod. "One moment, then." She turns away from the assumed-tiger youkai and picks up a telephone.
>Kiku steps away from the counter and turns to face you as you approach. She gives you a faint nod. "No Ran?"
-
>Shake our head.
>"I'm afraid she has left; I'm not sure if she'll be back."
-
>Shake our head.
>"I'm afraid she has left; I'm not sure if she'll be back."
>"Then we'll have to make do without her help."
-
>Nod and look to Kikuri. "Out of curiosity, has Miss Kirisame checked in today?"
-
>Nod and look to Kikuri. "Out of curiosity, has Miss Kirisame checked in today?"
>Kikuri is still speaking on the phone, and does not seem to notice your question.
-
>More quietly to Kiku, "Any luck?"
-
>More quietly to Kiku, "Any luck?"
>"Maybe." She tilts her head back towards Kikuri. "I told her I needed to see the records pertaining to a youkai that's recently come to the temple. One who's behavoir has Satori suspicious. That sort of thing is over her head, but she did agree to inform one of the ones in charge here. Hironobu Saigyoji."
-
>"I...might be able to help a bit. As I just mentioned, someone I know is here. She can probably vouch for us."
>Glance back toward Lily and Chie. If they don't seem to be in earshot, say, "Do you intend to take Chie with us?"
-
>"I...might be able to help a bit. As I just mentioned, someone I know is here. She can probably vouch for us."
>Glance back toward Lily and Chie. If they don't seem to be in earshot, say, "Do you intend to take Chie with us?"
>"There is another here that knows you, Lotus?"
>They do not appear to be in earshot, but you recall Chie has very sharp ears. She is likely to hear you, except maybe if you whisper directly into Kiku's ears. From what you know of feline youkai, however, you'd probably want to ask her permission before doing that, however. Do you wish to say this regardless?
-
>Let's not push the issue yet if Chie will overhear.
>"In a sense, there is."
-
>Let's not push the issue yet if Chie will overhear.
>"In a sense, there is."
>You decide to set the issue of Chie aside for the moment.
>Kiku looks towards Lily. "Another like yourselves?"
-
>Shake head. "No, rather a personal friend. I don't think she knows who I am."
-
>Shake head. "No, rather a personal friend. I don't think she knows who I am."
>Kiku seems a touch confused. "If she does not know you as you are now, how do you expect her to vouch for you?"
-
>"Um... that's actually a good point."
>Wait for a reply to the request for basement access.
-
>"Um... that's actually a good point."
>Wait for a reply to the request for basement access.
>Don't say this. Instead say, "It won't be hard to let her know."
-
>"Um... that's actually a good point."
>Wait for a reply to the request for basement access.
>Don't say this. Instead say, "It won't be hard to let her know."
>You consider admitting to Kiku that she made a good point, but opt for something else instead.
>"Are you sure you want to?"
>It turns out you needn't wait too long, because Kikuri hangs up her phone, and gives Kiku a polite smile as the youkai turns at the sound. "Saigyouji-san would prefer to discuss the matter in person. He will be down shortly."
>"A wise decision. Thank you." Kiku responds.
-
>"Thank you very much."
>Smile to Kiku, "You amaze me yet again."
-
>"Thank you very much."
>Smile to Kiku, "You amaze me yet again."
>"I do my duty. No more, no less." She pauses, then adds in a quieter voice, "But don't be TOO amazed, Lotus. We still have to convince Saigyouji-san to give us access. And if you have any suggestions on how we should explain your presense, on what is supposed to be a temple matter, I'm certainly willing to entertain them."
-
>"Is it unlikely that your faith and mine would work together for the common good?"
-
>"Is it unlikely that your faith and mine would work together for the common good?"
>"I didn't know you represented a faith."
-
>"I consider myself a representative of the Buddha's teachings, in any event. But more to the point, is there any reason why you wouldn't consider asking for additional help with a troublesome opponent?"
-
>"I consider myself a representative of the Buddha's teachings, in any event. But more to the point, is there any reason why you wouldn't consider asking for additional help with a troublesome opponent?"
>"The temple handles its own affairs. It is extremely rare that we have ever settled internal affairs by enlisting outside help, at least in all the years I've been there. And if I had become the elder like I was supposed to have-rumored to have become of our shrine, then I would have adopted a similar principal."
-
>"Hmm, would you normally turn down an offer assistance of the capable, when lives are in the balance?"
-
>"Hmm, would you normally turn down an offer assistance of the capable, when lives are in the balance?"
>"If I thought that assistance was unnecessary."
-
>"And do you, given what we've faced?"
-
>"And do you, given what we've faced?"
>"I don't intend to tell Saigyouji-san the true nature of our presence, if that's what you mean."
-
"Ah, I was thinking the truth would be enough. What do you intend to avoid?"
-
>"Ah, I was thinking the truth would be enough. What do you intend to avoid?"
>"As I said, the story I've told Kikuri and Saigyouji-san is that I came her to check the records of a particular youkai, one that came through the CRA several years ago, and that recently returned to the shrine. And that I wanted to handle the issue that way, rather than speak to any counselor that handled her, because neither I nor Satori-sama wanted to implicate anyone without having evidence to back up our suspicions. I hadn't planned on telling him anything about why we're really here."
-
>"Could you say that you are inquiring on my behalf, perhaps?"
-
>"Could you say that you are inquiring on my behalf, perhaps?"
>"Possibly. Did you have something specific in mind?"
-
>"It should be easy enough to say I have a personal tie to the case at hand."
-
>"It should be easy enough to say I have a personal tie to the case at hand."
>Kiku nods her head towards Lily. "And you friend?"
-
>"We can both have personal ties, I imagine? Or you could say that she is here to support me. Both are true, really."
-
>"We can both have personal ties, I imagine? Or you could say that she is here to support me. Both are true, really."
>"Some truth would be preferable." She pauses, looks towards the elevators, then back to you. "Even in the line of duty, deception does not come easily to me, Lotus. I find it distasteful."
-
>Nod.
>"Likewise."
-
>Nod.
>"Likewise."
>Behind you, Chie and Lily part from each other, Chie taking a seat along the wall while Lily walks over to you and Kiku. "What's the plan?" she asks you.
-
>"The plan seems to be that we talk with Mr. Saigyouji and tell him that we need to see something in the records; Kiku is handling it on behalf of the temple, and generously aiding us in our own interest in the matter."
-
>"The plan seems to be that we talk with Mr. Saigyouji and tell him that we need to see something in the records; Kiku is handling it on behalf of the temple, and generously aiding us in our own interest in the matter."
>Lily look at the youkai and smiles. "Well, I hope Saigyouji-san believes us."
>"As do I." Kiku says simply, as the elevator doors to your left open. A man who seems to be in his early thirties, wearing a very simple grey-green kimono with a dull white obi. He is wearing glasses, and his hair is a very light shade of pink. Very odd for a male. He looks towards the three of you, and approaches at a casual pace.
>"You must be the miko from the Metal Tiger." he adresses Kiku in a friendly tone, and bows before her. "We appreciate the assistance you and your sisters have given us over the years. My name is Hironobu Saigyoji."
>Kiku returns his bow. "We thank you for seeing us, Saigyouji-san."
>"It's no trouble at all. But, I understand the issue you've come to see me about is rather sensitive. Would you rather discuss it in my office?"
>"Yes, please."
>He looks towards you and Lily. "Are you here with Miko-sama?"
-
>Nod. "Yes, we are. Thank you again for taking the time to listen to us."
-
>Nod. "Yes, we are. Thank you again for taking the time to listen to us."
>"The Saigyoujis are always pleased to help."
>He gestures towards the double doors on the east wall. "I keep an office on the ground floor for events such as this. Shall we adjourn there?"
>"If you please." Kiku states simply. The pink haired man nods and heads in the indicated direction, Kiku politely behind.
>"Nice guy." Lily says to you.
-
>Nod to Lily. "It would do to be a nice person when involved in this sort of work."
>Follow that ghost corporate leader!
-
>Nod to Lily. "It would do to be a nice person when involved in this sort of work."
>Follow that ghost corporate leader!
>Tucking in behind the miko and the businessman, your little train of goodness passes through the double doors into the hallway beyond. A pair of humans wearing those black and yellow wristbands are several feet ahead of you, walking towards the end of the hallway, engrossed in their own conversation.
>"I understand two of your sisters brought a newborn youkai to us earlier today." the Saigyouji man comments to Kiku. "Was that one of them back there?"
>"Quite so. I was not present for the event itself, nor have I spoken at length to any of those that were there. Have you been able to help her?"
>"I'm not sure she needs much 'help' at this point, miko-sama. Her consult and evaluation is still in the initial stages, so, I'm afraid I'm not familiar with the details at this point."
>As you approach one of the open doorways about halfway down the hallway, a young man's head, full of shaggy brown hair, sticks itself out into the hallway, sniffing around. There are a pair of canine ears atop the head. His big eyes eventually settle on you as you approach .
-
>Take a moment to evaluate Kaynine while we follow Saigyouji. Does he strike us as a newly formed youkai, or just someone being themselves?
-
>Take a moment to evaluate Kaynine while we follow Saigyouji. Does he strike us as a newly formed youkai, or just someone being themselves?
Kaynine. Nice one.
>The action seems very natural for the dogboy. In fact, Letty's dog Hyozan would like quite natural doing that. The thought leads you to think he's a rather fledgling youkai. Either that, or one that hasn't shaken the instincts from his previous life. His eyes follow you.
>"I hope you're not uncomfortable, young lady." the Saigyouji man says. "Some of our residents are unaccustomed to strangers. Daigo here's only been with us two weeks."
-
>"Oh, not at all. He's not done anything to inconvenience me."
>Offer Daigo a smile.
-
>"Oh, not at all. He's not done anything to inconvenience me."
>Offer Daigo a smile.
>You offer the young youkai (puppy?) a friendly smile. He tilts his head sideways slightly in curiousity.
>"I would have thought it prudent to not let youkai near strangers if they're not prepared." Kiku advises archly.
>"It depends on the youkai, of course." Hironobu replies, semingly unfazed. "Some adapt more quickly than others, and some are more, or less, volatile than others. We run a safe operation, miko-sama. For our guests, employees, and visitors. Daigo here, for instance, hasn't been exposed to outsiders often, but he has a docile nature. Curious, even. I don't believe he's done anything violent, or even raised his voice, since he was here. Nor is he skittish or unnerved by people." He chuckles quietly. "As you can see."
-
>To Doggone: "It's a pleasure to meet you, Daigo."
-
>To Doggone: "It's a pleasure to meet you, Daigo."
>The puppy-boy looks at you quizzically for a moment, before straightening out and emerging fully into the hallway. You suppress a gasp at the sight; he's no puppy. Physically he seems in his mind twenties. And not wearing much in the line of clothing. Other than a pair of white and blue beach shorts, he is wearing nothing at all. And he's a fairly good looking specimen of youkai, too. Very toned but lean.
>He approaches you slowly, still sniffing the air curiously. A rather awkward looking smile appears on his face. "Likewise." he says slowly.
>You hear Lily emit an 'awwww' behind you.
-
>"Unfortunately, I can't really stay and chat. We have something important that must be taken care of. Regardless, it was nice to meet you. I hope you don't give your helpers here much trouble."
-
>"Unfortunately, I can't really stay and chat. We have something important that must be taken care of. Regardless, it was nice to meet you. I hope you don't give your helpers here much trouble."
>You think you lost the fledgling somewhere along the lines, judging from the look on his face.
>"Gotta keep it simple, Lotus." Lily chirps, walking up to Daigo and, unhesitatingly, pats him on the head, giving him a big smile. "Good to see you, friend. But we can't stay. Be good?" Daigo smiles a little more easily this time, and nods. "Okay, pretty girl." he says quietly. Lily laughs.
>You hear Kiku start to say something, likely a disapproval of your partners treatment of the young youkai, but she appears to stop short.
-
>"Yes, be good."
>Follow that industrialist!
-
>"Yes, be good."
>Follow that industrialist!
>Exchanging farewells with Daigo, you and your merry troupe continue down the hallway. Daigo's tail swishes happily as you take your leave of him.
>No more curious heads poke out into the hallway on your way towards its end, and which point, Hironobu makes a left turn. A dark skinned man in a labcoat passes by you, heading in the opisite direction, his expression one of intense thought. You have to step to the side slightly to avoid bumping shoulders with him, and Lily has to pull her wing in quickly. Some scientists these days...
>The Saigyouji pauses once to speak with a rather colorful figure. She is a tall woman in a bright pink and white kimono, with bright red hair with green tips, sporting green wings with blue and yellow feathers of many shades. They exchange words seemigly pertaining to day to day operations here, and then she turns her attention to you three. She gives you a pleasant smile and a friendly greeting, then bows politely.
>"This is Hatoko, my... Well, I suppose 'right hand' is as good a term as any. Basically, anything that needs to be done, she can take care of." Hironobu introduces the bird youkai to you.
>"It's been too long since one of you Sisters has visited us in person, miko-sama." She says to Kiku, and to you and Lily, "And I love those outfits of yours!" She looks between you and Kiku. "Can I get you anything? Coffee? Tea?"
-
>"No, that will be fine. but thank you."
-
>"No, that will be fine. but thank you."
>"You like em?" Lily asks.
>"I do! Haven't seen clothes like that since-"
>Hironobu clears his throat quietly. "I'm afraid miko-sama and her friends have come on a matter of some import, Hatoko." he states tolerantly, amusement clear in his voice, and from his smile.
>Hatoko looks somewhat abashed, but only for a moment. "Perhaps, when you're finished?" she asks Lily. The white winged girl nods and smiles. Hatoko then looks back at her boss. "You'll let me know if you need anything."
>"Of course, my dear. And put in a call to Gon for me, would you? The AC on the third floor's acting up again."
>With a nod, and another friendly smile to you and Lily, the vividly colored youkai walks down the hall.
>"Sorry for that." Hironobu states as you resume your walk in the opposite direction from Hatoko. "She's very good at what she does, but she's very enthusiastic, and very outgoing. Here we are." He stops in front of a plain white door with his name on a small plaque, as well as a wood mailbox with a slit in its lid, wide enough to allow small papers to be inserted. And what appear to be old claw marks a few inches from the bottom. The pink haired man opens the door, and holds his hand out. "Ladies first."
-
>Enter!
-
>Enter!
>His office is a rather comfortable place, spacious enough for a respectable desk in the northwest corner, one which seems to be antique, a tall bookcase on the west wall, two matching chairs in front of the desk, shelving on the east wall holding more books and photographs. The room sports a red and green check patterned carpet. Several official framed documents are on the wall as well, as well as more pictures.
>Hironobu enters behind you, then pauses before closing the door. "I can ask Hatoko to bring in another chair, if you'd like."
-
>"I won't mind standing, there's no need to trouble her."
-
>"I won't mind standing, there's no need to trouble her."
>Kiku nods. "I prefer to stand, myself."
>"More for me." Lily says as she plops herself down in one of the available chairs. Hironobu chuckles quietly as he closes the door.
>"I like your spunk, young lady." he says as he walks around you towards his desk, addressing Lily. "And you handled Daigo very well for your first time seeing him."
>"I've seen a lot of youkai like that. I like them." she says cheerfully.
>"And you as well, miss... Lotus, I believe it was?" he addresses you. "Some people that encounter fledgling youkai like Daigo there experience some discomfort."
-
>"I am Lotus, yes. I've learned over time that we all have much more in common than we have separating us. Daigo was just curious, I think. No need to discourage him."
-
>"I am Lotus, yes. I've learned over time that we all have much more in common than we have separating us. Daigo was just curious, I think. No need to discourage him."
>His smile broadens. You seem to have impressed him. "Wisdom, insight, enlightenment and enthusiasm. Your temple has good choice in friends, miko-sama." He spares a glance at the stern faced Kiku before returning his attention to you both. "If either of you are in need of work, keep our organization in mind. We're always looking for good people."
-
>"I may well take you up on that offer someday, you are most kind."
-
>"I may well take you up on that offer someday, you are most kind."
>He chuckles warmly. "Why thank you. But, I am also a businessman. And believe me, I know the value of good people to an operation." He then leans forward slightly, resting his arms on the desk in front of him. "But there'll be plenty of time to discuss that, after miko-sama's business is concluded."
>"Indeed." Kiku replies. "Nine days ago, a youkai came to our temple, one that had served at the temple before, but had moved overseas 12 years ago. She is no longer a miko, but several of my sisters, and Komeji-sama herself, have become aware of some suspicious behavior of hers."
>"Can you be more specific?"
>"We'd rather not, at this point. It could be that we're worrying over nothing. That's why I'd rather not mention her name. And why we came to you, directly, rather than speak to any of her old councilors here. We didn't want to implicate someone, potentially tarnish their image, without something more solid."
>"And you say she was once a ward of ours?"
>"Yes. This would have been 16 years ago. That's why we wanted to check your records ourselves. To see if there was anything there to indicate this type of behavior, or at least explain it."
>The pink haired man leans backwards in his chair, thinking for a moment or two, then turns to you. "Since I assume you two are not part of the temple, I assume you have a personal stake in this matter?"
-
>"That is correct."
-
>"That is correct."
>Lily voices an affirmative as well.
>"And, like miko-sama, you would prefer not to reveal too many of the details on the matter?"
-
>Nod.
-
>Nod.
>"I see. Can I ask, at least, if you agree with miko-sama that this youkai is acting in a manner contrary to the well-being of the temple?"
-
>"If we are correct about this, then yes, this person would be acting contrary to the temple's well-being."
>Assuming it's a youma or one of their masters, anyways...
-
>"If we are correct about this, then yes, this person would be acting contrary to the temple's well-being."
>Assuming it's a youma or one of their masters, anyways...
>"Would you mind if I ask if why two outsiders are here on what seems to be an internal matter of the temple?"
-
>"It is...a little private. But suffice it to say that if we are right about this, then we have a strong connection to this."
-
>"It is...a little private. But suffice it to say that if we are right about this, then we have a strong connection to this."
>Hironobu closes his eyes for a moment, leaning back again before opening them. "This isn't easy for you, is it?"
>"What, sir?" Lily asks him.
>"Keeping things to yourselves, like this." He learns forward again, templing his fingers. "I'm a rather good judge of character, and I judge all of you to be very honest girls. You find keeping secrets distasteful, yes?"
-
>Nod.
>Compulse honesty~
>"Yes. In a perfect world, it wouldn't be necessary. But, unfortunately, the world is not so and we must be very careful with what we say for our sakes, and those of others unrelated. Hmmm, let us say it like this. If you feel we are honest, do you feel that we are trustworthy, given we distinctively decided to try this option? I am sure you're aware that we had considered less savory methods that would have let us skip having to speak as we are, and we elected to discard them because they sit less well with us. Suffice it to say, we need to get down there. If you feel we are honest and feel that we are trustworthy, then please understand we are not seeking to do anything untoward or harmful."
-
>Nod.
>Compulse honesty~
>"Yes. In a perfect world, it wouldn't be necessary. But, unfortunately, the world is not so and we must be very careful with what we say for our sakes, and those of others unrelated. Hmmm, let us say it like this. If you feel we are honest, do you feel that we are trustworthy, given we distinctively decided to try this option? I am sure you're aware that we had considered less savory methods that would have let us skip having to speak as we are, and we elected to discard them because they sit less well with us. Suffice it to say, we need to get down there. If you feel we are honest and feel that we are trustworthy, then please understand we are not seeking to do anything untoward or harmful."
>The pink haired man in the kimono raises his interlaced fingers to rest under his chin, his expression contemplative.
>"You speak well, Lotus." Kiku compliments you, though you think you can detect just a hint of irritation in her voice.
-
>"Thank you, Kiku."
>Look bad to Ghost Dad (http://www.moviegoods.com/Assets/product_images/1020/210718.1020.A.jpg). "Another reason why we had chosen this route is that I am afraid time may be a factor."
-
>"Thank you, Kiku."
>Look bad to Ghost Dad (http://www.moviegoods.com/Assets/product_images/1020/210718.1020.A.jpg). "Another reason why we had chosen this route is that I am afraid time may be a factor."
>Hironobu lowers his hands, his expression serious. He is looking at you, not Kiku, when he asks, quite seriously "This is beyond the usual haunting, isn't it?"
-
>"I am afraid it may well be."
-
>"I am afraid it may well be."
>"I hope you understand, you've all left me a lot of questions. Some of which I WILL be looking for answers for, assuming you are successful." He addresses Kiku, "You require no aid from us?"
>"Only access."
>"Should I prepare to evacuate the building?"
>"I don't believe that will be necessary." Perhaps it's just your ear, but she definately sounds testy.
>"We've handled this before, and we can do it again!" Lily adds. Brave words from someone who's never actually seen combat herself.
>Hironobu exhales softly and smiles a small smile, for a second. "I would at least ask you, if possible, to take care. A great deal of the information down there is irreplaceable."
-
>Frown.
>"Don't you have it digitally recorded?"
-
>Frown.
>"Don't you have it digitally recorded?"
>"I'm afraid explaining that might take more time than I suspect you have. Suffice it to say, there was an incident, some information was lost, and we've yet to replace it from archives."
-
>"Alright. I will do everything in my power not to harm what is down there."
>Did our attacks even do property damage?
-
>"Alright. I will do everything in my power not to harm what is down there."
>Did our attacks even do property damage?
>"Me too." Lily adds, while Kiku's response is somewhat.... less definite. "I cannot give any guarantees. But, I will try."
>The pink haired man seems to sigh, then rises, sparing a glance at one of the pictures on the shelf. He gestures towards his door, a look of veiled resignation on his face. "I presume you know the way down?"
>None of the abilities you have demonstrated thus far have had any effect, destructive or otherwise, on anything other than the youma you've fought, and their constructs.
-
>Glance to Kiku.
-
>Glance to Kiku.
>The tiger youkai quirks a curious eyebrow in your direction, as though wondering why you didn't answer right away, but fields the question on your behalf. "We do."
>Hironobu stands. "Then go. I'll join you very shortly, after I have a word with Hatoko."
-
>Then go! He'll catch up shortly.
>Assuming we get a moment away from people overhearing, say, "I will have to make this up to you, Kiku."
-
>Then go! He'll catch up shortly.
>Assuming we get a moment away from people overhearing, say, "I will have to make this up to you, Kiku."
>Lily springs to her feet as Kiku nods in Hironobu's direction, before opening the door. You exit the room first, followed by your winged comrade, and Kiku brings up the rear, closing the door behind you, and the three of you set off the way you came, back towards the lobby.
>At the moment, there does not appear to be anyone else in sight, so you speak quietly to Kiku. You seem to confuse her a little. "I do not follow."
-
>"I lead you to deceive on my behalf, and I likely gave the impression it was something you did entirely on your own. I am sorry for that."
-
>"I lead you to deceive on my behalf, and I likely gave the impression it was something you did entirely on your own. I am sorry for that."
>"The approach was mine, Lotus. I chose this method, and I would have done so with or without you and Lily's involvement." She hesitates before continuing, and you catch another one of those flickers of fear in her eyes. This time, however, that flicker of fear is accompanied by a small *ping* from your ring. "I admit, it is possible that it might not have succeeded, without you. You owe me nothing, Lotus. If anything, I should be thanking you."
-
>Nod. "You've amply repaid anything you feel you owed me earlier today."
-
>Nod. "You've amply repaid anything you feel you owed me earlier today."
>"Then let us consider ourselves even."
-
>Nod and carry on.
-
>Nod and carry on.
>Having said your peace to Kiku, you fall silent again, thinking on that odd reaction your ring had just then. It was like the one you had outside, with both Kiku and Chie, but weaker. Like it was only half of what you sensed before. Perhaps they both triggered a reaction before, but why? The fear Kiku showed? But why would your ring respond to that? And what is she even afraid of?
>Lost in thought, it is not until you hear the loud 'clunk' of a door opening that you become overtly aware that you have crossed the lobby and Lily, in the lead, had opened the door on the west wall marked EXIT, which you now see had a sign for stairs emblazoned on the door itself. The stairwell is a complete concrete affair, the walls cinderblock, a rather start contrast to the modern, comfortable building you'd seen otherwise. Another door, clearly marked as an emergency exit, is on the wall in front, and two sets of stairs are to your right, one leading up, one down. You lead the way down, Kiku right behind you. You note that putrid stench is even stronger here, as has Lily, by the look on her face.
>As you head down the stairs, Kiku asks you, in a hushed tone, after Lily closes the door, "The youma you fought earlier. Did it have any abilities in common with the one we fought earlier?"
-
>"The first one I fought I only saw display physical strength. It was 'poorly made', apparently, and simply being in my presence was harmful to it. It did not have a chance to display any abilities other than draining energy."
-
>"The first one I fought I only saw display physical strength. It was 'poorly made', apparently, and simply being in my presence was harmful to it. It did not have a chance to display any abilities other than draining energy."
>"What kinda tricks did this other one have?" Lily asks from behind Kiku. "The one you two kicked?"
-
>"It was able to seal people into coffins. I am not sure what this was doing to them, but they were attached to it. It was able to flail them around, and I am sure that severing the connections on them was impeding it. It was quite a tough fight, Kiku honestly turned the tide decisively."
-
>"It was able to seal people into coffins. I am not sure what this was doing to them, but they were attached to it. It was able to flail them around, and I am sure that severing the connections on them was impeding it. It was quite a tough fight, Kiku honestly turned the tide decisively."
>"You credit me too much." Kiku says evenly. "The youma had already been weakened before my arrival. I suspect this was largely your doing, Lotus. I may have hastened the end, but I believe you would have won out, in the end. And let us not forget. I would have had no recourse but to destroy the corrupted object. Ran, as well, by her own admission, and probably that oni as well. You restored it. Do you share that power, Lily?"
>"Well, to be honest, I don't know. See, this is actually the first time I've ever used this power." Lily giggles, betraying some nervousness. "I don't actually know what I can or can't do yet. But I know I can do good!"
-
>"I credit you exactly enough, but let us discuss that later."
>Proceed! Aside from the smell, do we sense anything interesting or awry?
-
>"I credit you exactly enough, but let us discuss that later."
>Proceed! Aside from the smell, do we sense anything interesting or awry?
>On your way down the hard concrete stairs, you note that the terrible smell in the air gets stronger as you go down.
>Reaching the bottom of the stairs, there is a simple metal door in front of you, with a combination keypad/keycard lock upon it. You are now certain that the malicious presence is somewhere behind that door. You can't tell how far away, precisely.
>Kiku tilts her head slightly to the side for a moment, then produces a paper charm from her robes and holds it before her, between her fore and index fingers. She intones a short prayer, and the charm glows a silent grey light.
-
>"Do either of you feel it?"
-
>"Do either of you feel it?"
>"You mean that creepy feeling all over my skin?" Lily replies, her wings rustling restlessly. "Big time. Makes my feathers crawl."
>Kiku, however, merely nods. The edges of her charm turn a dull mix of yellow and orange.
-
>Nod back to Kiku.
>Put a hand on the door, see if we can extend any of our senses beyond it.
-
>Nod back to Kiku.
>Put a hand on the door, see if we can extend any of our senses beyond it.
>Placing your hand upon the cold metal door has an immediate impact upon your senses: your hand touches not metal, but water. At least, it feels like water, it ripples like water, and your hand dissapears beneath the surface of the metal as though it were water. Bitterly cold water.
>Something waits in the area beyond. Something that knows you are here. Something hungry.
-
>How have the others reacted to this display?
>"It's hungry, and it knows we're here."
-
>How have the others reacted to this display?
>"It's hungry, and it knows we're here."
>You look back to gauge the reaction of your companions, and the sight you see is a chilling one. The area behind you is dark and distorted, like you're underwater looking up at the surface. Their faces are distant, obscured by the darkened water surrounding you. You try to speak, but even to your own ears, your voice is distorted, slow, gargled. Your distant friends do not seem to react.
>You feel the waters pulling at your arm...
-
>Do the waters feel malignant, or anything really?
-
>Do the waters feel malignant, or anything really?
>They most definately do.
>It's not quite the same thing as when you were trapped in the Dark World, back when you put on that black ring. But there is a distinct sense of being surrounded by a sentient evil.
-
>Can we discern what kind of evil it is?
>Try to pull our hand out. Apply force if needs be. Be careful not to touch the door elsewhere.
-
>Can we discern what kind of evil it is?
>Try to pull our hand out. Apply force if needs be. Be careful not to touch the door elsewhere.
>Not precisely, but it feels at least partially similar to the sensations you experienced when in the presence of the bat demon before.
>You attempt to pull your hand free from the watery metal door. This proves to be quite a challenge, as whatever chilling force has a hold of your hand does not want to let go. After a few moments yanking, your brace your foot against the door frame, careful not to touch the sinister door itself, and use the added force and leverage to try and extricate your hand.
>Success! The door surrenders your hand, begrudgingly, and you stagger backwards with the effort of freeing yourself, bumping into Lily, who braces you.
>"Whoa, Lotus. Steady." Lily reassures you. "You okay?"
-
>"I think so. What did you both see?"
-
>"I think so. What did you both see?"
>"You zoning out after you touched the door." Lily replies. "You had the weird look on your face, and then you kicked away, and here we are."
>Kiku does not reply. While you were experiencing... whatever that was, she has exchanged her bronze-tinged charm for another one, and is holding it before her. Her eyes are closed and she seems focused on her task.
-
>"I saw my hand sink into the door as though it were water, and everything around me seemed to be dark. Whatever is in there, it knows that we are here, and it hungers."
-
>"I saw my hand sink into the door as though it were water, and everything around me seemed to be dark. Whatever is in there, it knows that we are here, and it hungers."
>"That might explain what I'm sensing." Kiku says, her face dark as she opens her eyes partly. "I detected the presense of a youma somewhere in the area beyond that door, but I can't localize it. There's another presense in there as well. Something completely alien to this world, beyond any spirit I've ever sensed. It's interfering with my scrying; I can't determine the location of either it, or the youma."
>As she finishes her explanation, the top part of her paper charm spontaneously turns into a sickly green liquid, that falls to the floor with a sound far deeper than water. Lily lets out a small yell in surprise.
-
>Boggle at the ooze for a moment vacantly, then look around to make sure no other oddities are happening.
>"Kiku, are you alright?"
-
>Boggle at the ooze for a moment vacantly, then look around to make sure no other oddities are happening.
>"Kiku, are you alright?"
>The door has returned to normal, at least in appearance, and apart from the terrible smell and malicious presence from the other side of it, nothing seems out of place, other than the miko's charm.
>Said miko does not seem to hear your question. Her eyes are fixed, fascinated, on the paper charm in her hands, which continues to dissolve in her hand.
-
>"Kiku, drop it!"
-
>"Kiku, drop it!"
>"Black seas...." Kiku murmurs, still staring at the paper as it transforms to ooze. "Hungry waters..."
-
>"Drop it!"
>If she still doesn't drop it, take it from her and drop it.
-
>"Drop it!"
>If she still doesn't drop it, take it from her and drop it.
>"It goes down forever..." her voice seems to be getting weaker.
>Held in the grip of a power that is beyond her, Kiku clearly needs your help. So you take a step forwards and grab the paper charm from her hand, careful not to touch the liquid ooze. Almost in the same instant that the paper leaves her hands, the ooze transmutes back to ordinary paper. Not taking any chances, you drop the thing to the floor.
>Kiku's eyes refocus, and her breath leaves her in a rush. Disturbingly, a faint blue vapor, looking and smelling almost like swamp gas, escapes her mouth as she does so. She stumbles backwards a step or two and sits down heavily, almost falls, onto the stairs behind her.
>Lily moves past you, and puts her arms on Kiku's shoulders. "Kiku? Kiku! Are you alright?!"
>The tiger youkai seems spaced for a few moments after Lily calls to her, then she blinks three times. She slowly looks at the winged girl, and her expression is one of a girl that just stared under the hood of the grim reaper himself. You hear Lily emit a choked sob, and she enfolds Kiku in a hug. "It's okay. It's okay, Kiku, you're back with us. You're okay now..."
-
>Put a hand on Kiku's shoulder and give it a firm squeeze.
>"We're both still here. You're not alone."
-
>Put a hand on Kiku's shoulder and give it a firm squeeze.
>"We're both still here. You're not alone."
>Kiku's breath comes heavy and deep. Rather slowly, she wraps her left arm around Lily, and uses her other hand to give yours a squeeze. "I'm sorry..." she murmurs.
-
>"It's not your fault that it came for you, Kiku. What did you see?"
-
>"It's not your fault that it came for you, Kiku. What did you see?"
>"Water. Black water. A sea with no shore, no floor. Just bottomless hunger. It spilled..." She releases her hand and presses hers to her forehead. "It was coming for me. For all of us..."
>You hear the sound of the door opening above you.
-
>"Do not worry. It shall not take us."
>"Ready yourselves. The enemy comes."
-
>"Do not worry. It shall not take us."
>"Ready yourselves. The enemy comes."
>The tiger youkai gives you a rather shaky nod, as she visibly tries to pull herself together while a set of feet descend the stairs. Lily disengaes herself from Kiku, her smile full of comfort and reassurance, as Hironobu comes into view. He looks down at the still-seated Kiku. "Everything all right?" he asks.
>"We're fine." Lily assures him. "Just some last minute prep."
>Hironobu gives her a dubious look, but does not inquite furthur. Instead he takes you all in with a glance. "Are you ready?"
-
>"I am ready, at least."
-
>"May I have the key? It would be best if you did not touch the door. Some...less favorable suspicions have been confirmed."
-
>"I am ready, at least."
>"May I have the key? It would be best if you did not touch the door. Some...less favorable suspicions have been confirmed."
>"I'm not prepared to give the password to our basement to anyone outside our organization." Hironobu responds firmly. "Even a Metal Tiger miko, which we've worked with many times before."
>Kiku seems momentarily confused at this statement, but she still seems fairly out of it as she comes back to her feet.
>"Now, if you'll stand aside?" Hironobu continues.
-
>"Then please take care not to touch the door. Use a pen or something to punch the buttons, just in case."
-
>"Then please take care not to touch the door. Use a pen or something to punch the buttons, just in case."
>Hironobu gives you a rather puzzled look, but Kiku nods slowly at him. "Best be safe." she adds. The tall man seems to shrug slightly, then descends the rest of the stairs, passing by you and stopping before the door. He slides the keycard in his hand into the waiting slot, then produces a pen from his kimono. Placing himself between you three and the keypad, he inputs what sounds like a six number combination. With a high-pitched tone, the door unlocks with a clunk, and Hironobu pushes it open.
>Immediately, a wave of putrid air erupts from the room beyond, five times as worse as the smell out here. Lily chokes and makes a sound like someone trying gamely not to retch. You yourself gag, despite yourself, and recoil from the horrible, horrible smell.
-
>Hand to nose ACTION
>How does Hironobu seem to be taking this?
-
>Hand to nose ACTION
>How does Hironobu seem to be taking this?
>You bring your hand up to your nose as fast as humanly possible. It's a slight improvement, but honestly, that stuff smells so bad, the memory of it could almost make you vomit.
>As for the human, he seems completely unfazed by the fetid reek. He pokes his head in through the door and glances to the left and right.
-
>"Don't go in there!"
>Don't throw up while saying that!
-
>"Don't go in there!"
>Don't throw up while saying that!
>Swallowing heavily to ward off any potential retching, you call out a warning to the human in front of you. To his credit, he pulls his head back in rather quickly, then looks back at the three of you. He seems somewhat surprised at what he sees. "I can accept there are some things I don't have a sense for." he says dryly. "I never thought smell would be on that list."
-
>"Consider it...an expression of how unrefined our senses are..."
>Don't throw up!
>Does this smell seem to be getting less bothersome?
>Look through the door, do we see anything at all?
-
>"Consider it...an expression of how unrefined our senses are..."
>Don't throw up!
>Does this smell seem to be getting less bothersome?
>Hironobu does not laugh, but he does look back through the doorway, probably looking for something out of place. He does heed your advice, however, and refrains from poking his head inside again.
>It does not. You hope this doesn't soak into your clothes, you might never get it out. Even RIN might not be able to stand being around that. But as that thought crosses your mind, you see Lily extend her gloved hand towards the open door. You sense a faint build up of energy from the winged girl.
>"Spring Lily Flower Breeze!"
>A strong gust of wind blows past you, sending your long gradient hair billowing. A wind that smells like cherry blossoms, new grass, tree sap, running water, and sunshine. Lily's called forth the scent of Spring, to combat the foul reek of the demonic presence. And it also, somehow, brings the image of squirrels playing with kittens to your mind's eye.
>Look through the door, do we see anything at all?
>Hironobu is still standing in the doorway, but from what you can see above and around him, you can see very long metal racks holding cardboard boxes, and a bare concrete floor. From here, at least, it looks almost like a warehouse in there, and there are no obvious signs of otherworldly invaders.
-
>"Oh, that's much better. Thank you, Lily."
>Does Hironobu react much to that?
>If we can without pushing, try to step around him and enter.
-
>"Oh, that's much better. Thank you, Lily."
>Does Hironobu react much to that?
>If we can without pushing, try to step around him and enter.
>Lily gives you an 'Aw, shucks' look. Kiku looks at the winged blonde with curiousity. "Your power extends to making the air smell better?" she asks in an arch tone.
>"For starters!" Lily chirps brightly. "I just thought to myself, 'I wish I could make that stink go away!', and the words just... sorta came to me." She giggles then, a sound somewhat at odds with the situation, as she smiles. "I wonder what ELSE I can do?" Kiku offers no reply to this, just turns her head away, her face dark.
>Hironobu seems rather surprised at the sudden blast of air from behind him, but he tilts his head back and draws in a breath through his nose. He turns back to Lily and gives her an approving look. "I always thought it smelled a little musty down here. That's much better."
>"Happy to help!" Lily replies.
>You approach the door to the record vault, and Hironobu steps to one side, allowing you full access. As you cross the threshold, you have the sensation of being splashed by water. Foul, reeking, sludgey water. The flowery smell of Lily vanishes, but the horrible reek does not replace it. It seems the two cancel each other out in here. Replacing both is, indeed, a rather musty odor, not entirely unlike what some old libraries and bookstores smell like. There are many rows, each at least 40 feet long, of those long metal shelves, holding almost innumerable boxes, some cardboard, some plastic.
>A flat cinderblock wall is present about 10 feet to your right, a sign on it marked 'A'.
-
>Try to extend our senses again now that we're inside, and see what we can detect.
-
>Try to extend our senses again now that we're inside, and see what we can detect.
>You extend your senses outwards, but the sensation that returns to you is... unpleasant. It is as though every inch of the chamber you're standing in has been drenched by dark water, interfering with your ability to detect and localize otherworldly presences. Much like Kiku said, you have a sense that there are two distinct presences down here, but the interference put out by one, or perhaps both, of them, keeps you from pinpointing their locations. They seem to be coming from everywhere at once- every box, every bracket, every rivet, every brick. This is a rather unnerving sensation.
>Fortunately, for whatever reason, you do not suffer the same sort of attack that Kiku did.
-
>"It's, or they, are everywhere. Trying to hide themselves. Step carefully. Hironobu, it may be best that you leave, lest it try to come for you."
>Does anything seem visually awry?
-
>"It's, or they, are everywhere. Trying to hide themselves. Step carefully. Hironobu, it may be best that you leave, lest it try to come for you."
>Does anything seem visually awry?
>Hironobu casts one more look back and forth then gives you a look that seems to say 'if you say so.' Then he says it out loud, taking a few steps backwards, allowing Lily and Kiku to move up behind you.
>You see the occasional box on the floor instead of a shelf here and there, but as you've never been down here before, this may be normal. An analysis of the wall around you does not reveal anything too interesting, save for two stains. One near the door, dark and black, much like an oil or grease stain. The other is less defined, kind of a milky color, and barely noticeable. There are chips and signs of wear, but nothing else out of the ordinary.
>There also appears to be what seems like a pool of liquid in one of the aisles between shelving brackets, the sixth and seventh on your left, to be specific. There are numerous boxes on the bottom shelf of the sixth rack, so you do not have a clear view of the liquid.
-
>If the grease stain is closest, examine it. Grease generally doesn't manifest out of the aether onto a wall without there being lots of machinery about...
-
>If the grease stain is closest, examine it. Grease generally doesn't manifest out of the aether onto a wall without there being lots of machinery about...
>It is the closest, indeed, so you go in for a closer examination. With the ambient interference, you can't be certain of the accuracy of this, but the stain does not give off any stronger sensation than anything else around that you can detect. Upon closer examination, you would guess this is actually some kind of oil. You're not an expert, but you've been around Nitori and Marissa enough to know an oil stain when you see one up close, even if this one isn't as dark as some others. Although this doesn't entirely answer how a single oil stain could get on a cinderblock wall in a room with little or no obvious machiery active.
>It seems more a smear, you would guess, than a splash. As though something oily rubbed this spot, leaving this less than an inch long smear behind.
>"Somethin' catch your eye, Lotus?" Lily asks you as she walks past the Saigyouji male, shaking her head in surprise as she passes through the doorway then frowning slightly.
-
>"I am just wondering where this grease streak came from. It seems out of place."
-
>"I am just wondering where this grease streak came from. It seems out of place."
>"It does?" Lily asks you, looking somewhat puzzled.
>The look Kiku aims you is also curious, but also somewhat starker.
-
>"This doesn't seem to be a place where grease is going to be seen very often. But, it doesn't really feel like anything bad... Perhaps I am too suspicious.
>Have a look at the pool of liquid while staying where we are.
-
>"This doesn't seem to be a place where grease is going to be seen very often. But, it doesn't really feel like anything bad... Perhaps I am too suspicious.
>Have a look at the pool of liquid while staying where we are.
>"Vigilance, Lotus." Kiku says approvingly, her expression softening a touch. "Caution is only appropriate when dealing with an unknown entity, with unknown, but obviously malicious, intent."
>Lily, however, simply says "Wouldn't it be simpler to ask Saigyouji-san?"
>While you do not have a clear view of the liquid from where you are, it appears to be only a small puddle, of a clear fluid- probably water. Only a few inches across, from what you can see. Much like the oil smear, it does not trigger anything in your extrasensory perception, but it also does not seem entirely 'in place' considering the general level of cleanliness to the place.
-
>Move to investigate, and see where it's come from. Stay wary of strange motions and sensations.
-
>Move to investigate, and see where it's come from. Stay wary of strange motions and sensations.
>Leaving the oil smear alone for now, you head to the east to check out that puddle on the floor. When you reach the entrance to the aisle in question, that swampy stench briefly surges in your nose, and you cough despite yourself. Since you entered this chamber, neither Lily's floral scent nor the funk has been strong. In fact, they'd been barely noticable. But the stench of stagnant, boggy water grows here, for a moment.
>The liquid does indeed to be water. At least, at first glance. The floor is slightly depressed around the pool, and a small circular metal grate is set in the floor., lying in the middle of the pool. The visual effect is one of a backed up drain. The water is a touch darker than you'd expect for plain water, but if this is backed up water, this would not be entirely out of place. While the water's coloration does nothing to set off your extra senses, nor does anything else, the brief surge in that foul reek could have been caused by the water, as much as by anything else you can sense.
-
>"There's a clogged up floor drain over here..."
>Have there been any storms lately that would have flooded the drain like that?
-
>"There's a clogged up floor drain over here..."
>Have there been any storms lately that would have flooded the drain like that?
>"What was that?" Hironobu calls out to you from the entrance. "Did you say something about a backed up drain?"
>"She did." Kiku confirms.
>"That's odd. There's been no reports of faulty plumbing, or anything along those lines. And it's not like the twins to leave liquids lying around, certainly not down here, especially. Are you sure it's not just a spill, or something?"
>Not recently. The last heavy rainfall was over two weeks ago.
-
>Turn our senses toward that drain and give it extra scrutiny, just to be sure.
-
>Turn our senses toward that drain and give it extra scrutiny, just to be sure.
>To give the task due dilligence, you focus your senses, mundane five and more, on the backed up drain and the small pool upon it. Your mystical 'radar' returns a faint.... 'pinging' sensation. A tingling in the back of your mind. It's faint, but it's there.
-
>"There is something...'off', about this drain. I can't quite put my finger on it though, but something doesn't quite add up about it."
>Look to Lily. "Lily, what do you think about this?"
-
>Wait. That may mean it's in the drain, which means it could get to the sewer system, which means it could go just about anywhere in the city unnoticed.
>"I think it may be trying to get to the sewer."
>"Hironobu, where's the nearest sewer access? And, please, do not ask why I need to know. There may be little time."
-
Oh, almost forgot about this.
>Before we do this, let's confirm it's not trying to escape through a nastied up drain.
>Can we tell where the ping is coming from, precisely? Can we find anything else nearly that has a similar feeling?
-
Oh, almost forgot about this.
>Before we do this, let's confirm it's not trying to escape through a nastied up drain.
>Can we tell where the ping is coming from, precisely? Can we find anything else nearly that has a similar feeling?
>A sensible plan.
>The sensation does not seem to be coming from the drain or the pipes. Rather, the water itself. Spreading your psychic senses outwards, you detect multiple such sensations within the immediate area. The closest is to your right, near the wall of the chamber. Due to all the objects in your way, you can't tell what exactly is generating it, but you wouldn't be at all surprised if there was another drain with water back up over there.
>"There is something...'off', about this drain. I can't quite put my finger on it though, but something doesn't quite add up about it."
>Look to Lily. "Lily, what do you think about this?"
>The winged blonde strolls forward to stand next to you, and eyes the puddle. She stares it for a long few seconds, looking rather charming when she's focused, then shakes her head. "Sorry, Lotus, I'm getting nothin'. If there's something off, I can't sense it." She considers, then gives you a smile. "Your senses might be sharper than mine. So if you say it, I believe ya."
>Wait. That may mean it's in the drain, which means it could get to the sewer system, which means it could go just about anywhere in the city unnoticed.
>"I think it may be trying to get to the sewer."
>"Hironobu, where's the nearest sewer access? And, please, do not ask why I need to know. There may be little time."
>"The sewers?" Hironobu calls back to you. He's poked his head through the door again, but, honorning your instruction, he hasn't entered the chamber itself. Yet. "Well, I honestly don't know off the top of my head. But if there's a problem with the drains down here, it wouldn't be in the sewers. Those drains feed into the city's storm drain system, totally seperate from the sewers."
-
>"Equally as bad. Where's the nearest access to the storm drain?"
-
>"Equally as bad. Where's the nearest access to the storm drain?"
>The businessman retracts his head momentarily. "Let me think...."
>While he's thinking, Kiku slowly approaches you, her expression wary. "What makes you think it's in the sewers? Wouldn't that mean it's trying to escape?"
-
>"That is my concern, yes. I sense it in the drains. In the water, specifically."
>While Hironobu thinks, investigate that nearest source.
-
>"That is my concern, yes. I sense it in the drains. In the water, specifically."
>While Hironobu thinks, investigate that nearest source.
>"But why would it be running already? Surely it wouldn't be afraid of us."
>Lily suggests, as you make your way over to that other source, "Maybe this youma isn't ready for a fight? I mean, we don't know how long it's been down here, maybe it's only, I dunno, half finished?"
>"That's certainly not what I sensed, Lily. And besides, it's creator seems to be present, as well. It is extremely unlikely that a being of that power would be scared of one exorcist, and a pair of.... What, exactly DO you two call yourselves?"
>This exchange between your allies gives you time to take a better look at the location of that sensation. Sure enough, there's another metal grate on the floor, with another small puddle of water covering it. Matter of fact, its dimensions are virtually identical to the last one.
-
>Examine it; does it feel at all similar to the prior one?
-
>Examine it; does it feel at all similar to the prior one?
>Both to your eyes and your mystic senses, it is identical to the first one.
-
>Because it has been awhile, have we seen any of places with water yet? Any place where it may have come from?
>What percentage of the records area have we covered, approximately?
-
>Because it has been awhile, have we seen any of places with water yet? Any place where it may have come from?
>What percentage of the records area have we covered, approximately?
>It HAS been a while, hasn't it. Too long, really.
>Well, you were in the bathroom earlier, and there was a drinking fountain on the wall in the corridor you were in earlier, on the way to Hironobu's office. But as for down here, you've seen no faucets, no fountains, no obvious source of water. And nothing that could have made such isolated pools without leaving some kind of trail behind it. There are pipes in the ceiling overhead that may be used for water, but none of them have any leaks that you can see.
>To the left of the first puddle you encountered, there were four more rows of metal shelving holding boxes. Beyond that was another wall, though that wall only seemed to extend about halfway down the shelving. In then opened up into another area, one seemingly devoid of these shelving units, but you didn't get a good look at what was over there.
-
>If we can do so without having to step over the standing water, let's have a look at that area without the shelving units.
-
>If we can do so without having to step over the standing water, let's have a look at that area without the shelving units.
>The puddle is in front of where the wall ends. However, it does not extend under the shelves, and the next aisle over has no grate, and no puddle. Do you wish to walk down it to get a better look without worrying about coming into direct contact with the water?
-
>Yes, avoid the puddle altogether. Put two rows of shelves between it and us if we can.
-
>Yes, avoid the puddle altogether. Put two rows of shelves between it and us if we can.
>You very much can, and do so. You move two aisles to your left and walk down between the shelves. The long rows of boxes on either side of you produce a similar feel to that of a library, and each box is marked with dates, names and numbers. The filing system seems to be alphabetical, with one date being last year, the one next to it fifteen years ago, and so on.
>While you are free from any potential problems from the water with your current location, there is a problem with your current plan. There are too many boxes between you and that area beyond to get a clear view. There are some gaps in this aisle between boxes, but there are no gaps that afford you a good view of the area you seek to examine.
>Hironobu's voice floats down towards you as you try and get a better look. "Well, there's no direct access to the storm drain system here in the building, I know that for a fact. None of our drains are large enough for people to fit through. There's manholes in the street, of course. There's actually one, maybe two, in our parking lot, but I don't know if they're part of the sewer system or the storm drains. I'm also not sure if those are locked or not. I know some cities keep their drainage systems sealed from the public, but I don't know if Mayoiga is one of them. I'm sorry, but this isn't an issue I deal with frequently. Our chief of maintenance would know, but he's off today. I could check with Hatoko, if you'd like. She would probably be more certain than I."
-
>Can we go to the end of the aisle and go around?
>"That may be a good idea, Mr. Saigyouji. Lily, Kiku, have you found anything else? And do your best not to touch anything wet."
-
>Can we go to the end of the aisle and go around?
>"That may be a good idea, Mr. Saigyouji. Lily, Kiku, have you found anything else? And do your best not to touch anything wet."
>This is possible. There is a gap between the ends of the shelves and the wall beyond, with a walkway in evidence.
>"All right. This will take a minute or two."
>"Just a moment, Saigyouji-san." Kiku's voice interjects. "I don't wish to alarm you, but, have any members of your staff, or your residents, been noted as absent over the past few days?"
>"No. Nothing that's been brought to my attention, at any rate. Well, unless you count Suzuhara, she's been off work for two weeks. Maternity leave."
>"I see. So much the better, then."
>"Tell her congratulations!" you hear Lily announce from a bit of distance. She seems to have headed towards that open space, as well. Hironobu chuckles softly, gives his assurance on that one, and then you can hear his footfalls as he departs.
>Kiku steps into the aisle you're currently occupying, and has a look around. "Apart from those pools of water, I've not noticed anything obviously out of place. And I am unable to detect anything supernatural about those. I do not doubt your senses, Lotus, but whatever you have sensed in them has eluded my own powers." She hesitates, briefly, before continuing, "I would normally employ my divination magics, but considering what happened when I tried that outside the demon's aura, I am... reluctant to attempt that again, now that I am within that aura."
-
>Nod. "Yes. It would like only hurt us at this point."
>Go to the edge of the aisle and around! Let Kiku follow if she wishes
-
>Nod. "Yes. It would like only hurt us at this point."
>Go to the edge of the aisle and around! Let Kiku follow if she wishes
>Kiku returns your nod and does indeed follow along behind you. "To be honest, Lotus, there is another means at my disposal that could aid us in localizing this youma, or its demon master, if not both. But it is not one I am comfortable with using, on acount of the potential risk it entails. At least, under normal circumstances. You, however, or your partner, might be able to aid me in overcoming that risk."
>Coming to the end of the aisle, you turn to your left and have a gander. The open area has a brown tiled floor, and you can see what appears to be a vending machine along the wall. There also appears to be several chairs, and the edges of three or four tables. The rest of your view is blocked by the stocked shelves.
-
>Can we sense anything here?
>"Please elaborate."
-
>Can we sense anything here?
>"Please elaborate."
>Nothing beyond what you have detected already.
>"My natural senses are more acute in my natural form. But I cannot use my magic in that state." Kiku replies. "Or, were you aware that some youkai, such as myself, can change their form between what they are and what they were?"
-
>"Interesting. I would certainly do my best to protect you, but let's have a proper look around first."
>Can we get to that open area from here? Proceed onward if we can, keeping ware of the water.
-
>"Interesting. I would certainly do my best to protect you, but let's have a proper look around first."
>Can we get to that open area from here? Proceed onward if we can, keeping ware of the water.
>Kiku nods. You think she looked slightly releived for a second there. "Agreed."
>Easily. The aisle you're standing in opens directly into that area. So you, with the tiger youkai following behind you, advance towards it.
>You find something which you would describe as a break room, more so than anything else. There are in fact three vending machines along the east wall, and a long table between the second and third machine, holding bread, bagels, a toaster, microwave, coffee maker, plates. A metal door is present between table and third machine, with the word "Pool" written in what appears to be black marker, by an untrained hand.
>There are eight circular tables in evidence, with four chairs on most, five at some. An softcover book has been left on one table, while newspapers are evident on two others.
>The western wall features two more metal doors, but these have multiple locks on them. A small pair of lights are present on the upper right corner of both doors, red and green. The red light on both is currently illuminated. The left door shows some damage, a decent dent present about two feet up from the floor, bowing out towards the room you're standing in. It is here that you see Magical Lily, poking curiously at the dent in the metal. An elevator is located between both doors.
>To the north, the chamber opens up to reveal more long metal shelves holding document boxes.
-
>Frown. "Pool?"
>Go have a closer look at that.
>Are we sensing anything now that we are in the room proper?
-
>Frown. "Pool?"
>Go have a closer look at that.
>Are we sensing anything now that we are in the room proper?
>"So it says." replies Kiku simply. She sniffs the air shortly, then frowns herself.
>You walk closer to the marked door to have a closer look at it. The word "Pool" does indeed seem to be hand-written, and somewhat poorly, in a marker. The word is faded somewhat, though whether through age or through some property of the metal, you cannot determine. The door is painted a dull green, contrasting it from the off-white paint on the walls surrounding it. This paint has chipped slightly at the base, and in the lower right corner, of the door. The door has no window, and a simple metal handle.
>Neither the door, nor this room, alerts your senses beyond what you have already sensed. Apart from the sensations you received from those water puddles, you can detect nothing beyond the pervasive feeling of being surrounded by black, sludgy water, which has pressed on you since you first entered the basement. This feeling hasn't gotten any lesser, but it hasn't gotten any worse, either.
-
>Have a look at the metal doors; is there any indication of their destination or the purpose of the lights?
>Did anymore mention the last time someone was down there?
-
>Have a look at the metal doors; is there any indication of their destination or the purpose of the lights?
>Did anymore mention the last time someone was down there?
>Turning away from the "pool" door, you have a look at the two doors on the other side of the room. Unlike the "pool" door, these appear to be devoid of writing. Taking a couple steps towards the closer door, while Kiku moves around and behind you towards the pool door, there does not appear to be any indication of writing on or around the lights, either. The only marks of any sort around the doors are plain black letters, A and B, over them.
>Lily is giving that dent in the A door an experimental push with her boot, then looks over in your direction. "What do you make of this?"
>Neither Hironobu nor Hatoko mentioned when anyone was down here last, specifically.
-
>Have a look at the dent Lily was examining.
-
>Have a look at the dent Lily was examining.
>Upon closer examination, it looks about the right shape that would have resulted either from a heavy object impacting the other side, or someone very strong kicking it. It's not obvious which is the case, if either one.
>Lily would seem to agree with the latter thought process, as she backs up a couple steps. "If I didn't know better, I'd say someone tried to score from center on that kick."
-
>Gingerly tap the door, to see if it's safe to touch.
>If so, run a hand over it, to see if we can feel any other dents.
>Does this door have a light? If so, what color is it?
-
>Gingerly tap the door, to see if it's safe to touch.
>If so, run a hand over it, to see if we can feel any other dents.
>Does this door have a light? If so, what color is it?
>A touch apprehensive after what happened the last time you touched a door down here, you cross the floor and tentatively reach your hand out to brush the metal of this one, half expecting your fingers to encounter liquid metal again. This time, however, the metal remains just that- cold metal, and probably pretty thick, too, by the sound of it. It does not swallow your finger, nor ripple, nor give any sign at all of otherworldly malice. It's a bit of a relief, really. And not just for yourself, as you hear Lily let out a sigh of relief from behind you.
>Your probe the door with your hand, and you do find several imperfections in the metal door, some curving inwards, and some curving outwards. They're barely visible to the naked eye, apart from that large one. The inward-curving dings seem less smooth than the ones that curve outward.
>This door, like the one to your right, both have the red light above them illuminated.
>"You're mighty brave, Lotus." Lily praises you.
-
>"Desperate is more apt, I think. I am not sure what to think about this, but I think I can feel some smaller dents like this one."
>Does it seem like water could have slipped through this door?
-
>"Desperate is more apt, I think. I am not sure what to think about this, but I think I can feel some smaller dents like this one."
>Does it seem like water could have slipped through this door?
>"It is far too early for desperation, Lotus." Kiku admonishes you sternly from across the room. "Desperation is the last resort of those that have failed. We have not failed yet. We simply have failed to locate our enemy, and we will, in time." She produces a paper talisman and presses it against the Pool door. "No evil shall escape my sight." she states firmly.
>This door, and its neighbour, appear to be fairly airtight, with no obvious gaps around the doorframe. Water, however, can be pretty treacherous, so it's not entirely impossible.
-
>Contemplate the chipped paint on the pool door. Does it suggest water damage?
-
>Contemplate the chipped paint on the pool door. Does it suggest water damage?
>You'd guess it was rather caused by simple wear, or footwear hitting the bottom of it often enough to peel the paint slightly, rather than water damage.
-
>"So, we have three doors to try. One is ominously marked pool, one seems to have something try to beat its way out, and one seems innocuous save for the red light..."
-
>"So, we have three doors to try. One is ominously marked pool, one seems to have something try to beat its way out, and one seems innocuous save for the red light..."
>"And let's not forget that theory of yours about our enemies being in the sewers." Kiku states.
>"Sewers OR storm drains." Lily adds.
>"Whatever." the tiger youkai snaps at Lily, before turning her eyes back to you. "This door here is unlocked, what about those two?"
-
>Can we tell if they are locked at a glance? Presumably the pounded-upon one is, unless it only opens from the outside...
-
>Can we tell if they are locked at a glance? Presumably the pounded-upon one is, unless it only opens from the outside...
>Both doors feature the same type of electronic locking device that the entrance to the basement had. Much like the lights mounted in the top corner of the doors, both of these locks have a green light and a red light, and both of these also have their red lights lit. If they're anything like the common stoplight, you'd guess this indicates 'locked'.
-
>"I suppose checking the unlocked one would be easiest. Shall we?"
-
>"I suppose checking the unlocked one would be easiest. Shall we?"
>Kiku nods. "I took a quick scan beyond the door. I detected more metal that descended again after a foot or so. A staircase, I believe. I think there's a sub-basement down there."
>"What about Saigyouji-san?" Lily counters. "He'd probably be worried if he found us all up and gone when he comes back."
-
>"That's a good point, Lily. Would you stay behind and tell him? I'm sure you will hear us if anything happens, and vice versa if anything happens up here."
-
>I don't suppose you would have any advice for us at the moment, would you, Purpose?
-
>"That's a good point, Lily. Would you stay behind and tell him? I'm sure you will hear us if anything happens, and vice versa if anything happens up here."
>Lily looks worried for a moment, then nods her head. "All right, Lotus, if you think it's safe." She points at the two doors. "And I'll ask him what's up with these doors here."
>Kiku produces a small piece of paper shaped like a little person, with a little line of orange around its waist, then walks towards Lily. "I know you and Lotus have a means of communicating with each other, but this shikigami will allow you to communicate with me, and I with you." Lily accepts the paper. "Should the need arise." Kiku finishes.
>"Cool!"
>"Indeed." Kiku marks dryly.
>I don't suppose you would have any advice for us at the moment, would you, Purpose?
>The Purpose's voice that returns to you is more muffled than normal, like it's whispering through a door to you.
>Be wary of your youkai companion, Lotus. The demon can taste her fear. That fear is a weapon that the enemy will use, if given the chance.
-
>Can you give us any clues as to the demon's current location? We are having difficulty finding it.
-
>Can you give us any clues as to the demon's current location? We are having difficulty finding it.
>The Purpose's voice responds, but even duller this time. And there is another sound that rings in your head as it speaks, rising in volume. The sound of the waves on the beach on a stormy day, growing louder, and louder...
>I am afraid that she is concealed from me, as well. I believe she is somewhere below you. Directly below you, not directly, I cannot determine. But... Something is wrong...
-
>"I think our enemy has begun attempting something, though I do not know what. Stay alert."
-
>"I think our enemy has begun attempting something, though I do not know what. Stay alert."
>At your words, Kiku immediately widens her stance and produces another ofuda, her eyes sweeping the area, her ears perked. Lily spreads her wings wide and starts looking around as well.
>Breaking contact with the Purpose, the roaring sounds of waves begins to fade from your mind. A fact which you are rather grateful for, honestly. But as they fade, another voice comes into your mind. A casual, almost friendly voice, but one that leaves a foul sensation in your mind as it whispers "It's not too late, you know. You could still join us."
-
>I have seen what you do, and desire only to stop it.
-
>I have seen what you do, and desire only to stop it.
>Reality doesn't care what you desire...
>The slimy presense slinks away from your mind.
>"I don't see anything." Lily announces.
-
>"The enemy is in contact with me."
>Then I reject your reality and substitute my own.
Sorry. I couldn't resist.
-
>Resist.
>Instead, can we sense anything about this voice?
No need to be aggressive. Our goal is to subvert the enemy to our side, not taunt them. Haughtiness and such is only going to hurt us in the long run.
-
>"The enemy is in contact with me."
>Then I reject your reality and substitute my own.
Sorry. I couldn't resist.
>Lily makes a surprised gasp.
>"What's it saying?" Kiku asks, he eyes sweeping back and forth.
>You through your determination back at the disembodied voice, but it returns no furthur taunts. You cannot sense its presense upon you anymore.
That, sir, was very well played.
>Resist.
>Instead, can we sense anything about this voice?
>When the voice was in contact with your mind, it felt like someone was wrapping an oily, slimy hand around your brain. It was a throughly disgusting experience, almost as bad as that smell earlier. It's a relief to not be in that kind of contact with it anymore.
-
>Did it feel akin to the water, or anything else we've encountered?
-
>Did it feel akin to the water, or anything else we've encountered?
>As a matter of fact, it did. When you entered the basement, you had the odd sensation that you'd walked through a layer of filthy, grimy water. That's virtually identical to the sensation the voice left on your mind. And it feels quite similar to the pervasive sensation of being surrounded by black muck that's been present since you came down here.
-
>Now that we've felt this presence come toward us, then move away from us, can we put a direction to it?
>"It wishes for me to join with it. I told it that I have no interest."
-
>Now that we've felt this presence come toward us, then move away from us, can we put a direction to it?
>"It wishes for me to join with it. I told it that I have no interest."
>Difficult to say. Your mind's reeling a bit from that contact, and it didn't really arrive from any given direction, so far as you can determine. Moreover, it seemed to dissipate into the air rather than move off.
>However, inasmuch as it was 'dissipating', it seemed to dissipate in front of you. That would put it in the direction of the 'pool' door, since the heavier locked doors are behind you. But it also could have been dissipating downwards instead of straight back, or upwards, if not all of the above.
>"That's tellin' him, Lotus!" Lily cheers.
>Kiku, however, gives you a thoughtful glance. "Why you?" she asks, almost more to herself than to you.
-
>"I presume it regards me as the largest threat. I am content to let it underestimate the two of you, if that is the case."
>Point toward the door: "I am reasonably sure it is down there."
-
>"I presume it regards me as the largest threat. I am content to let it underestimate the two of you, if that is the case."
>Point toward the door: "I am reasonably sure it is down there."
>Kiku does not seem entirely satisfied by your first statement, but comes alert at your second. "You were able to discern its location from its contact with you?"
-
>"It is an assumption on my part, admittedly. It seemed to dissipate in front of me. So I assume it came from that direction."
-
>"It is an assumption on my part, admittedly. It seemed to dissipate in front of me. So I assume it came from that direction."
>"Then we should not entirely rule out your theory that our enemy is in the sewers, or storm drains. Still, I would agree, it is a lead well worth exploring."
-
>Nod.
>"Let's at least check here before going into outside drainage systems."
>Check the door like we did last time. If it doesn't react, open it.
-
>Nod.
>"Let's at least check here before going into outside drainage systems."
>Check the door like we did last time. If it doesn't react, open it.
>While Kiku simply returns your nod, you note Lily shudder slightly at the mention of the phrase 'drainage systems'. It's not an appealing prospect, even to your disciplined mind.
>The 'pool' doesn't feel quite as cold to the touch as the locked ones, but also does not generate any reaction. The paint feels a little rough under your hand, but that's about it. Satisfied that your hand will remain uneaten, you pull the handle down and swing the door inwards.
>A plain concrete staircase, about three feet wide, descends down about 8 feet or so, then levels out, not unlike the staircase on your way down to the basement. In fact, the only major difference between the two is the illumination. This stairwell has much more subdued lighting. Rather dim, actually.
>Hints of odor wash across your nose as well. A dull, chemically smell, and a scent rather like sea water. Both are quite faint, though.
-
>Look around, is there any kind of light switch?
>If not: "I don't suppose either of you have a flashlight?"
-
>Can we produce light in any way?
-
>Look around, is there any kind of light switch?
>If not: "I don't suppose either of you have a flashlight?"
>Poking your head inside, a glance to the right reveals a pair of switches, one in the 'on' position, the other 'off'. Glancing overhead reveals the single pair of florescent tube lights, and they are indeed illuminated. Just nowhere near as bright as they should be. But it's not like they're simply dull. It's more like... something is blocking the light they're throwing off, like someone hung a dark grey curtain over them.
>Can we produce light in any way?
>Many folks have said you have a brilliant personality, but that's not entirely helpful here. The attacks you've employed have certainly thrown off a great deal of light, but you're not looking to blow down a wall, just light your way. Wouldn't want to fall over any more flights of stairs.
>Compared to the powers you've demonstrated so far, generating a simple light shouldn't be too hard, you imagine. Give it a bash, see what happens.
-
>Rather that generate light, let us see if we can gently counteract the dampening effect. The idea behind, rather than overpower it with raw force in a way that the Buddha would not approve, coax it away gently.
-
>Rather that generate light, let us see if we can gently counteract the dampening effect. The idea behind, rather than overpower it with raw force in a way that the Buddha would not approve, coax it away gently.
>Well, that's one way to do it.
>You opt for a more gentle approach than trying to make your own flashlight, and, with a bit of a gentle nudge, the area does actually brighten up a little bit.
>You hear Kiku's footfalls as she walks up behind you, sniffing the air. She makes an affirming sound, then pauses behind you. "Do you smell salt water?"
-
>"I do, yes."
-
>"I do, yes."
>"You think they'd have a salt water pool down there?"
>"Why not?" Lily asks. "This place takes in youkai of all kinds. Makes senese there was fish youkai too, or something. Salt water pool gives em a place to feel at home, until they get used to life on land."
>"Maybe," Kiku concedes, "But I smell chloronated water here, too. Faint, but it's here."
>The staircase brightens a bit more at your efforts. It feels like you're trying to push a puddle with your bare hands. A puddle that leaves your hands black and grimy. It's a disgusting sensation.
-
>"I think, though, that what we're sensing here is the presence of our enemy."
-
>"I think, though, that what we're sensing here is the presence of our enemy."
>"Then it's time to investigate." Kiku states simply, and the youkai slides her way past you without another word, and begins descending the stone stairs.
-
>Stop her with a hand on her shoulder.
>Assuming she does stop, lead her out, and softly say, "Let me go first. If it's paying attention to me, then it'll be easier for you to two to get into position if things go poorly." Do our best not to let our voice carry, where it can hear us.
-
>Stop her with a hand on her shoulder.
>Assuming she does stop, lead her out, and softly say, "Let me go first. If it's paying attention to me, then it'll be easier for you to two to get into position if things go poorly." Do our best not to let our voice carry, where it can hear us.
>She does stop, just inside the stairwell, and turns her head to look at you. Her skin jumped in shock under your hand when you touched her. The look in her eye she gives you is one of rage, and a desperate fear. Her lip is starting to curl back, like she's about to snarl at you. Her breath escapes her in a sharp hiss, and for an instant, you think she's going to attack you.
>The she blinks, and lets you pull her back a step, back into the break room and out of the staircase. And the look in her eye is gone, her snarling lip is normal, and her breath is quiet. She exhibits no hostility whatsoever.
>"Accepted." she says simply.
>"I'll be right behind you," Lily adds, "As soon as I send Saigyouji-san back where it's safe. Don't want him coming down looking for us when the magic starts flyin'."
-
>Nod to Lily, then look to Kiku, "Are you alright? You seemed to be...not quite yourself, a moment ago."
-
>Nod to Lily, then look to Kiku, "Are you alright? You seemed to be...not quite yourself, a moment ago."
>"I'm fine." Kiku answers a little too quickly.
-
>"Alright. I trust you to be honest with me, since we know this thing can prey upon the dark parts of our souls. Be strong, alright? I might need you to be strong for me, if things go badly."
-
>"Alright. I trust you to be honest with me, since we know this thing can prey upon the dark parts of our souls. Be strong, alright? I might need you to be strong for me, if things go badly."
>Kiku nods slowly, twice. "I understand. I will not fail. This is what I've trained for since I became Kiku. I am not afraid."
-
>Smile.
>"Well, you're a step ahead of me. I'm quite afraid."
-
>Smile.
>"Well, you're a step ahead of me. I'm quite afraid."
>"Are you sure, then, that you want to go down there first?"
>"Now hold on, there, Kiku." Lily interjects. "I'm scared here, too, y'know? No shame in admitting it. None of us exactly what's down there, for sure, only that it's real bad, and the world needs us to fight it. That'd make anyone a bit scared."
>"All the more reason to banish fear. Give the enemy nothing, nothing they can use against you. Especially not an enemy that has been bested before. I say IT should fear US."
-
>"Seeing fear as undesirableis a common mistake. Fear tells you when you're in danger. It is perfectly natural, and one should not deny it nor attempt to eliminate it. Fear is a normal response to situations such as this. It is only when you let fear control you that it becomes undesirable."
-
>"Seeing fear as undesirableis a common mistake. Fear tells you when you're in danger. It is perfectly natural, and one should not deny it nor attempt to eliminate it. Fear is a normal response to situations such as this. It is only when you let fear control you that it becomes undesirable."
>"There is wisdom in your words, Lotus." Kiku agrees. "But that wisdom is for normal people. And we are not normal people. You, Lily, me. We can do things that most humans and even youkai can only dream of. We face an evil that corrupts the very fabric of our world, the likes of which could very well drive a normal mind mad. But we three are not ordinary people. We are extraordinary. We have to be, to do what we do."
>"You were right, Lotus. We face an enemy that can seep into our very being, find the blackness in us and turn it against us. That includes our fear. It will find nothing, should it seek that fear within me."
-
>"I have faced my fears, and emerged stronger for it. Should I be brought to face them again, I shall emerge stronger yet. It is far from easy to face one's fears, but those who can do so and emerge intact benefit greatly from having done so."
-
>"I have faced my fears, and emerged stronger for it. Should I be brought to face them again, I shall emerge stronger yet. It is far from easy to face one's fears, but those who can do so and emerge intact benefit greatly from having done so."
>"Then perhaps I should regret not being afraid now. If it has done such wonders for you. But this is my life's work, the result of all my training. Komeji-sama placed her faith in me, and I will not fail her. Nor will I fail you, Lotus, or you, Lily, if the need arises."
-
>"I doubted that you would. Let us not yield to whatever tricks it may have, should they play on our fear, our anger, our hate, or anything else."
-
>"I doubted that you would. Let us not yield to whatever tricks it may have, should they play on our fear, our anger, our hate, or anything else."
>"Then lead on, Lotus. I am ready."
-
>Lead on, take the steps one at a time, and stay wary.
-
>Lead on, take the steps one at a time, and stay wary.
>Given the slight dimness that remains present in the staircase, and the danger that could lurk around any corner, you take care upon the concrete steps leading downwards. The air on the stairs more than feels damn, it even smells damp down here.
>The stairs go down a bit furthur than your initial estimate, about 10 feet or so, and then hit a small level floor and turn left, revealing a second set of concrete stairs, opening up into a long hallway. Upon the wall to your left, at the top of the stairs, is a watercolor painting of a young woman with short black hair in a one-piece swimsuit, smiling a somewhat lopsided smile. She stands in front of a swimming pool, which is occupied by several men and women. Her expression is one of pride, you think. The brass plaque beneath the painting reads, "Daiko, our first aquatic resident. Though gone, her name shall never fade."
>From above you, at the top of the stairs you just came down, Kiku steps forward, sniffing the air, then snorting loudly, briefly. "Unpleasant." you hear her mutter. She takes one step down, but slowly, letting you take the lead, as you proposed.
-
>Do we feel anything from the steps, painting, or such?
-
>Do we feel anything from the steps, painting, or such?
>Nothing from anywhere distinct. However, the feeling of being surrounded by sludgy water seems somewhat more pronounced, now that you are even furthur below ground.
-
>Descend. Stay wary.
-
>Descend. Stay wary.
>The second set of stairs descends another 8 or 9 feet or so. When you step off the final stair, a pronounced chill comes over your foot, and halfway up your leg. The corridor ahead is lit by overhead flourescant lights, although the ceiling is only three feet or so over your head. However, about six feet or so, the light dims considerable, trailing off into pitch blackness. The visible parts of the wall have more decorations, here and there, more pictures and paintings, some with plaque dedications, some not.
>You hear Kiku coming down the staircase behind you, no longer sniffing the air as much.
-
>"You holding up alright still?"
-
>Take a few steps inside, keep wary.
>"You holding up alright still?"
>Don't talk needlessly. It's probably down here, and able to hear us.
-
>"You holding up alright still?"
>Don't talk needlessly. It's probably down here, and able to hear us.
>"There is a rather upleasant smell down here, on top of everything else.
>You consider asking your companion how she's faring, but then a little voice warns you otherwise.
>Take a few steps inside, keep wary.
>You take a few cautious steps forward, towards the field of darkness. Your feet feel increasingly cold with each step.
>You hear Kiku reach the plateau behind you.
-
>Take a moment and try to coax away more of the darkness.
-
>Take a moment and try to coax away more of the darkness.
>Halting your advance, you attempt once again to convince the darkness to go chill somewhere else for a while. You hear Kiku descend the stairs behind you.
>The area a couple feet ahead of you brightens, marginally, but the darkness beyond remains intact. The effort has a much more unpleasant result, as well. On the stairway, it felt like you were trying to push a puddle out of the area. This time, it feels like you've sunk your arms into a dark, cold, polluted lake. You feel slightly dizzy and a little light-headed.
>At the bottom of the stairs, Kiku comes to a halt. She mutters something that sounds like "Where'd that come from?"
-
>"Kiku?"
>Okay, trying to remove the darkness isn'treally working. Let's just make a light.
-
>"Kiku?"
>Okay, trying to remove the darkness isn'treally working. Let's just make a light.
>"I couldn't sense it before, with all the interferance around here." Kiku replies, as you hold your palm up, out in front of you. A small ball of white light appears just above your palm. For some reason, this makes your legs feel a little less cold, as well. Kiku continues, "There's a tremendous amount of metal down here. In fact, I think we're surrounded by metal. I can't be certain, without a more focused scanning, but it feels like lead."
-
>Possibly an old bomb shelter? There were the wars, after all...
>Nod to Kiku, and proceed as before.
-
>Possibly an old bomb shelter? There were the wars, after all...
>Nod to Kiku, and proceed as before.
>Speculating on the purpose behind lead-lined walls 20-odd feet underground, you continue on down the concrete corridor. Each step forward deepens the chill in your feet. Stepping further into the dimmed area before, a curious image plays before your mind's eye. A layer of the shadows before seems to roll away from you- rather, your little ball of light- like the tides going out. The orb doesn't cast it's light far, though, and when you enter the area of total darkness, you have a hard time making out the walls on either side of you. You also note that, as near as you can tell, the lightbulbs over your head are all gone out from this point on.
>You hear Kiku mutter quietly, "Definitely lead."
>The air down here is distinctly more foul, as well, and gets worse as you make your way through the barely-illuminated corridor. As well does the smell of chlorinated water.
>After about another 13 or so feet, with Kiku about three or so feet behind you, the area ahead brightens a little, revealing a branch in the corridor, splitting to left and right. There appears to be signage on the wall, but it's too dim in here to see at this range.
-
>Get close to the sign. Stay wary.
-
>Get close to the sign. Stay wary.
>Keeping all senses alert, you proceed forward, towards the end of the corridor, and the signage upon it. As you draw within a couple feet, just in front of stepping into the corridor itself, the darkness reveals a pair of arrows on top of each other. The top arrow is green and has the word "Salt" written over it, along with a picture of a salt shaker, and points to the left. The bottom arrow is light blue, and has the word "Fresh" written over it, along with a picture of a glass of water, and points to the right.
-
>Look down each corridor. Which gives us a worse feeling?
-
>Look down each corridor. Which gives us a worse feeling?
>Glancing first down the "Fresh" corridor, you see that it continues on about ten of so feet, and then turns left into another area. From that area, there comes a pale light, thin but distinct.
>The "Salt" corridor is somewhat less comforting. It also extends about ten feet away, and then turns right. However, the floor from about a foot in to the entrance to the second area is covered with water. There is light coming from the area beyond as well, but this light seems... off, somehow. Somehow less than natural. The air is also fouler in that direction, the funk of swampy decay and rust emanating from beyond.
>Kiku, still following your lead, sniffs once, then exhales quickly.
-
>Quietly: "Smell anything? I think...the salt direction is the one we want."
-
>Quietly: "Smell anything? I think...the salt direction is the one we want."
>"I agree. But, the smell of rust is confusing me somewhat. It's different than any oxide I've ever smelled before. I also smell a large quantity of brass from that direction, which I can't explain at the moment. It's possible that the enemy's presence, or some aspect of its power, is disrupting my natural senses."
-
>Proceed Saltward, with all usual cautions, until we get to the water., then give it a closer look.
-
>Proceed Saltward, with all usual cautions, until we get to the water., then give it a closer look.
>Choosing the left corridor, you walk cautiously forward, holding your light before you to ensure no nasty surprises are lurking ahead. When you come with 'reach out and touch it' distance of the water, you see now that it is more like oil than water, viscous and grimy. You can hear a sound like moving water, but the oily muck at your feet remains perfectly still. It also smells quite terrible.
-
>What do we sense from it?
-
>What do we sense from it?
>You have a keen sense that this fluid does not originate from this world. Or perhaps that it was once water, but has been tainted so badly as to be unrecognizable as water anymore.
>The corridor is wide enough to accompany both you and Kiku abreast, and the feline youkai moves up to stand alongside you, her face an expression of one doing her best to keep disgust off her face.
>"Considerable taint." she states quietly. "And at least two odors I can't identify. It would not surprise me if this liquid was poisonous, if not worse."
-
>"Let me see if I can do something about it."
>Try to gather our power, and use it to urge the water to subsume and cast away its poisons as a person pursuing the noble truths would cast away her unethical desires, removing the poison and allowing the sediment to separate and fall harmlessly toward the bottom.
-
>"Let me see if I can do something about it."
>Try to gather our power, and use it to urge the water to subsume and cast away its poisons as a person pursuing the noble truths would cast away her unethical desires, removing the poison and allowing the sediment to separate and fall harmlessly toward the bottom.
Very poetic.
>Kiku nods briefly, then takes a half-step back to let you do you thing.
>In a related tactic to the one you employed against the semi-natural darkness behind you, you attempt to coax the corruption out of the fluid before you. The effect here is more immediate, and rather more dramatic. The black sludge before you starts to bubble and churn, like it was boiling. The stench in the air intensifies.
>"What are you doing?" Kiku hisses.
-
I figure the more connected it is to Byakuren's ideology, the better it'll work and the more cred we'll have when it's time to beat the evil out of one of these guys.
>"Trying to remove the taint in it. Make sure nothing sneaks up on me."
>Does it feel like it's having an effect?
-
>"Trying to remove the taint in it. Make sure nothing sneaks up on me."
>Does it feel like it's having an effect?
>Kiku gives you a somewhat dubious look, but says nothing. She merely half-turns, side on to the ooze, giving herself a better look at both ends of the corridor.
>Your tactic is definitely having SOME effect. Whether or not it is the effect you desire is somewhat unclear, at this point. The fluid doesn't seem to be giving off any sensations that register on your other senses, despite it's turbulent outward response. Although, for some reason, you find yourself feeling hungry.
-
>Keep at it. We can dine later. Perhaps dare Kiku to take one of those bottomless ramen bowl challenges...
>Stay calm and balanced. Just guide the water to act as water should, supporting life in all its ways.
-
>Keep at it. We can dine later. Perhaps dare Kiku to take one of those bottomless ramen bowl challenges...
>Stay calm and balanced. Just guide the water to act as water should, supporting life in all its ways.
>You speculate about future dinner plans, after more immediate and pressing matters have been dealt with.
>As your attention remains focused on the tar-like water in front of you, though, your hunger intensifies, as does the bubbling of the liquid. Your efforts are certainly agitating it, though this could be a sign that its taint is boiling away. Perhaps not the most ideal manifestation of your goal, but not an entirely unwelcome one, if it's working. It's difficult to say.
>The youkai is young, supple. We must feed. We should take her, unaware.
-
>What was that red bit? How did we experience it?
-
>What the-?
>"Kiku, be careful. I just... felt like I heard something, even though i didn't. I can't explain it. What I do know is that it said 'we' and that it wants to feed on you, so be alert. It-or they-is here somewhere."
>Can we sense anything from a specific location?
-
>What the-?
>"Kiku, be careful. I just... felt like I heard something, even though i didn't. I can't explain it. What I do know is that it said 'we' and that it wants to feed on you, so be alert. It-or they-is here somewhere."
>Can we sense anything from a specific location?
>Don't speak yet, until we understand what that was or something happens to threaten one of us physically.
-
>What was that red bit? How did we experience it?
>It... was your own voice. In your mind. You really are hungry, after all....
>What the-?
>Can we sense anything from a specific location?
>It's hard to focus beyond your growing hunger. The predatory instinct. Yes. Yes, that's what it was. That's what it is, the instinct. The need to consume. The need... you share. Share with something. Share with the tar. Yes, you can sense it now, through the connection you've established with the liquid. It hungers. It consumes. That's what it is- hunger made manifest. You can sense more beyond this hunger, but it's hard to focus. Its need is yours.
>The bubbling and boiling intensifies even more, and wisps of black smoke drift off the surface of the tar. Kiku starts to turn again, back towards you. "Lotus..." she cautions, restrained tension in her voice. "I sense something.... foul, from that water. Something between it and you. Are you alright?"
-
>Stop trying to affect the water.
>"It's... getting in my head."
>If the sensation fades after we stop: "I'm okay now. It happened when I tried to seperate the water from whatever that is that's in it."
-
>Stop trying to affect the water.
>"It's... getting in my head."
>If the sensation fades after we stop: "I'm okay now. It happened when I tried to seperate the water from whatever that is that's in it."
>Don't do any of this just yet.
>We can deal with an urge to consume; mere hunger is but a physical desire that we can set aide for the greater good. Rather, let us not forget what our dark side has told us. Do not reject the hunger; explore it, find the roots of why it hungers, what it truly wants and what it truly needs. There is nothing to fear, we walk the path of the Buddha, this is nothing compared to what he faced. Mere hunger shall not sway us.
Let's not run away from this immediately. We're stronger than this thing is, more sure of the truth of our beliefs and understanding of the universe. It cannot corrupt us, we've already faced our own darkest desires, accepted them, and have turned them toward working for the greater good. If it wishes to try to assault us with what what we've already overcome, then it may expend the effort. And in turn, it can see that we've gone beyond such things. Perhaps we can influence it.
-
>Don't do any of this just yet.
>We can deal with an urge to consume; mere hunger is but a physical desire that we can set aide for the greater good. Rather, let us not forget what our dark side has told us. Do not reject the hunger; explore it, find the roots of why it hungers, what it truly wants and what it truly needs. There is nothing to fear, we walk the path of the Buddha, this is nothing compared to what he faced. Mere hunger shall not sway us.
>Yes. Embrace the need. The instinct. It is all. It is.... all? The beings around are differnent. Take them. Consume them. Make them yours. Make them vanish. Reach out and consume.
>There is more than simple hunger, far more, you know this. It goes deeper. It is not a... not a desire, not even a need. It is simply what this liquid is. It consumes everything it is not. It is bottomless, unsatiable.
>And why shouldn't it? Why shouldn't you? Everything different is food. Everything not yourself should be consumed, must be consumed.
>The black liquid is not you. Take it and drink it all down. Consume.
>The female is standing next to you, her flesh warm. Tear it away. Consume. Her blood is hot. You can smell its coppery sweetness. Open her and drink it. She is making noises, words. Freeze them and pluck them from the air. Consume.
>A need. A terrible need. It needs to consume. You need to consume, to fill, to restore, to be whole, to be complete. To drag the different things into yourself.
>But there must be a why. Mustn't there? Must not all creatures have a why, a basis of instinct? Can this... thing BE a creature? Can there be truly be something beneath this horrible empty feeling of hunger?
>You are strong. So very strong. So very centered. You are Byakuren Hijiri. You are Magical Lotus. You are, you MUST be, stronger than what lies before you.
>You are so hungry....
>More steam rises from the surface of the black ooze. A sound reaches your ears, but you can't make sense of it. Send out your will and take it. Consume. You think the liquid is beginning to undulate, swirl, as though it were swirled like fine brandy in a cup.
>You are so very hungry....
EDIT: Ow, my eyes. Sorry about the orange there, but I realized after the fact that I didn't want to use red here, got something else in mind for red, and since I'm a green lantern fan, Orange seemed a good color for 'hunger' voice. Didn't realize it was so glaring against this blue background.
-
Well guys? I dunno about you, but I'm getting danger flags from this thing.
-
I still say we should stop trying to affect the water.
-
Yeah, these warning flags just scream 'Bad End'. I think that if this were a jRPG, this'd be one of those bonus bosses you aren't meant to mess with until later.
-
In that case:
>Stop trying to affect the water.
>"It's... getting in my head."
>If the sensation fades after we stop: "I'm okay now. It happened when I tried to seperate the water from whatever that is that's in it."
-
In that case:
>Hold a moment.
I'm not seeing it at all, actually. It's just giving us some impulses, and Byakuren is pretty much impulse control incarnate, so there's really no way it would truly affect us. Again, we've already faced our own dark impulses, seen the delusion in them, and brought them into our own purposes, what more can this really do to us? We won't act on such things, because that's how Byakuren does.
This is just running away from the fight we came here to have, trying to overcome this thing's power and bring it into the light. There's no need to run from that, let's win it instead like we came to do.
Edit: In short, I'm not seeing bad end, I'm seeing the next challenge. Any kind of induce hunger is not hard for Byakuren to ignore, I think. She knows it's not real, because she wasn't feeling it before she came down here. And I am thinking it is possible to affect the hunger to our advantage, we just need to play some psychic Judo on it.
-
Current vote is 2 to 1 in favor of backing off from trying to seperate water and evil shit, and mine is still the same. Hanzo?
-
Rather than votes, shall we discuss?
Is there any real reason to flee, when we can use this opportunity to make progress in the right way and proceed as a someone like Byakuren would wish to? As I've established, I don't think it can truly affect us. Do we have a reason to think it would, because fake impulses Byakuren can reason away and ignore? At this point, we're giving up the fight after the first shot.
-
It is affecting us, and we're not fleeing. I don't know what gave you that idea. I'm just saying we should stop trying to purify the water. It's not getting us very far, and it is causing us problems. Instead, we should find the creature we're looking for. And if it is, in fact, the gunk in the water (which it may well be), then we should confront it directly.
-
I meant fleeing in the since of giving up this particular conflict. We're not affecting it because we've not really tried to affect it aside from bland purification. The next step, as I mentioned, is to see if we can manipulate the hunger aspect and judo it into doing something more useful.
If it hungers something, let us try to manipulate it to hunger for something more useful. We'll manipulate it into hungering for understanding of the world. And then we shall feed it and turn it to our advantage.
-
I'm with GYMO on this, which means a 2-to-1 in favor of giving this up for the time being.
At least until we've got more info.
-
Alright. I think we're wasting an opportunity to do things the Byakuren way in favor of possible physical violence which is not the Byakuren way. But if I can't convince yalls, so be it.
-
..You do realize we can come back to this after investigating the rest of this place, right?
-
Presuming we haven't tipped off our enemy or gone into a trap. Given it lairs here, there's probably countermeasures of some kind.
-
Well, I still get the feeling we're missing something here. We should check the other locations down here.
And if those don't work out, then you're welcome to hammer away at this goo-thing again.
-
The thing is, that makes the presumption our enemy is just going to sit there and wait for us, and not set up countermeasures, or actively hit us while were doing some other things. This is an opportunity we may not have again (I would say likely not, but that's a meta argument), and it's a definite chance to deal with the corrupted nature of this place right now.
-
Well, given that it's a mostly-immobile pile of glop, it's not too unreasonable for byakuren to come to the conclusion that it's not going anywhere.
Besides, some things you can't always manage to hammer out on the first try. We both should know that. I know I do.
So my point's this; We go check out the other areas, see what we can dig up, and use that time away from it to come up with a better plan.
-
The problem with looking elsewhere is that almost all the evidence we have says the one we're looking for is ahead. So while it may not move anywhere, it may well be a whole lot worse when we get back, unless we're going forward to deal with it physically.
-
If you're set on the purification thing, whatever, but I really think you're going about it the wrong way. You're really focused on the whole 'forgiveness and redemption' thing, but I'm kind of getting the idea that, although the youma and any other corrupted things can be purified, the demons themselves (which is what we're up against here) are going to have to be destroyed or resealed.
-
That's precisely why I'm going for it; it's in character. Because resealing would just perpetuate the war, Byakuren would be interested more in making the war not need to happen. As well, there is mythological precedent in Buddha converting numerous demons in a number of mythologies. For Byakuren, actually destroying or sealing would not be an acceptable solution, it would just perpetuate the problem and kick it down the road a few years. As well, any mook could do that; but instead Byakuren was chosen, so she is going to regard this as a mandate to try to bring the demons out of the shadows.
In short, if we're treating it like a simple beat up and seal or beat up and destroy, then we're doing it wrong. Other characters (say, Marisa) would treat it that way, but Byakuren wouldn't. Hell, canonical Bykauren got sealed away herself over trying to treat youkai like people, long before it was regarded as thing you can do.
-
That may work for the other demons, but I'm just not feeling that for this one man.
There just doesn't feel like there's anything there to turn.
-
I would disagree. Desires don't exist on their own; there has to be something to it to make it do that.
-
Maybe in your world man, but there are such things as Baseless Desires.
Desires that have absolutely nothing to them beyond that desire's presence.
That is likely what we have encountered, a desire to consume for no other reason than to do so.
-
Purvis, you're still thinking of these things as if they were people, but they aren't. They're demons, and there's no garuntee that they function mentally in the way that humans and youkai do. And I think they indeed don't. You're talking about purifying and redeeming them, but it's quite possible that there is quite literally nothing there that can be redeemed, and that, as it happens, is the impression I've been getting.
-
Indeed, maybe the higher-ranking ones might be swayable, but this one feels like it's little more than a minion.
A lesser demon with little intelligence beyond what it needs to act on it's lone, baseless desire.
-
Maybe in your world man, but there are such things as Baseless Desires.
Desires that have absolutely nothing to them beyond that desire's presence.
That is likely what we have encountered, a desire to consume for no other reason than to do so.
Baseless desires mean that there's no logical reason for them to exist, not that that they come out of the aether and have no kind of will to them at all. To have a desire, you need to have a mind behind it.
Purvis, you're still thinking of these things as if they were people, but they aren't. They're demons, and there's no garuntee that they function mentally in the way that humans and youkai do. And I think they indeed don't. You're talking about purifying and redeeming them, but it's quite possible that there is quite literally nothing there that can be redeemed, and that, as it happens, is the impression I've been getting.
The fact that they can make decisions independently means that they can hold the values of good and bad to judge those decisions by. The fact that they can lay plans suggests that they do have a concept of the future and presumably of the past. With these things in mind, they can most definitely comprehend of code based on the idea of uplifting everything rather than satiating immediate desires. So yes, they most definitely can be redeemed. I would say, instead you are you're pretending they're something different when there's no evidence that suggests it.
Indeed, maybe the higher-ranking ones might be swayable, but this one feels like it's little more than a minion.
A lesser demon with little intelligence beyond what it needs to act on it's lone, baseless desire.
The water corruption or whomever has spoken to us? You may be right about the former, though evidence doesn't suggest it is beyond our influence yet. The latter suggests that it is quite intelligent and can be reasoned with on a number of levels.
-
Oh? Do go on, explain to us what makes you think that.
Either way, I'm all for giving up on trying to convert that ooze.
-
(ooookay, this is starting to annoy me a little, so i will give you a question.
Can you convince the dirt to do whatever you want it to? if you can honestly answer me yes, and explain HOW and that the dirt and literally think. i'll shut up, Otherwise, please stop. matter cant think. it doesnt have a brain or higher functions, it has instinct, its not sentient. no amount of magic, sort of some 'you are now as intellegent as human' spell, will make it sentent. and im not even sure that it'll actually properly use its new found intelligence.)
-
Find me dirt that can think well enough to show hunger and I will. Would you consider slime mold running a maze to be close enough, because we have trained them to do that without any kind of magic.
-
Dude's got a point though, all this thing has is the most basic of desires, the desire to feed.
If anything, this ooze has the most primitive of sentience, capable of little more than what it's demonstrated.
EDIT: And another thing, dirt is filled with billions of microorganisms. If you extract them, and pile enough of them together, take a wild guess as to what you'd get.
-
So do slime molds, and we have trained them to run mazes without the intervention of any kind of magic at all. Byakuren, on the other hand, does have magic and does have the requisite cleverness to use it in that way.
-
(Blech, why'd i say dirt? meant something else... eh, too late now.
Still, point still stands. It has nothing more then the basic wants that life needs to exist. Food, Water, Sleep, Sex and Shelter. You know, Maslow's hierarchy of needs. it is not smart.)
(And about the mold things, if im correct, they just kind of... grow? so in theory, they can run mazes given enough time... we havent trained them, they just reproduce to the end, given the right conditions. Unless they spouted legs and can speak. in THAT case, i just failed biology and now ahve to go retake high school, son of a bitch.)
-
Dude's got a point, all they are is piles of amoebas anyhow.
And as we all know, Amoebas may be the precursor to life as we know it, but there's no denying that they have no desires beyond feeding.
-
(Blech, why'd i say dirt? meant something else... eh, too late now.
Still, point still stands. It has nothing more then the basic wants that life needs to exist. Food, Water, Sleep, Sex and Shelter. You know, Maslow's hierarchy of needs. it is not smart.)
(And about the mold things, if im correct, they just kind of... grow? so in theory, they can run mazes given enough time... we havent trained them, they just reproduce to the end, given the right conditions. Unless they spouted legs and can speak. in THAT case, i just failed biology and now ahve to go retake high school, son of a bitch.)
We teach them how to run the mazes more efficiently; it was actually kind of a huge surprise we could do that, given that in the past there was a strong argument for slime mold to be considered a plant. (They do also move by rolling, though, which is why there's was an argument for considering it an animal before we discovered this capacity. Slime Mold is awesome =])
As far as a heirarchy of needs, you may be correct. But I don't think there's much evidence we can't do something to it, since we have the magics. And I think it is worthwhile to try. But as I said some posts ago, yalls ain't down with it so go on and draw back from this.
Dude's got a point, all they are is piles of amoebas anyhow.
And as we all know, Amoebas may be the precursor to life as we know it, but there's no denying that they have no desires beyond feeding.
What evidence do we have it's that simple? And to beat that drum again, we used to think the same about slime molds til we experimented on them. (And given we're dealing with a macroscopic effect, I think that is a more useful point of reference than a microscopic non-colonied thing.)
-
'Fraid not friend, you're the only one who thinks it's worth it.
GYMO has expressed that it's not worth it, as have I.
Little something called democracy, can't run a game like this without it yo.
-
This is probably why I said, twice now, to go ahead and do it. I am not sure why you are continuing to argue with me about it if you don't have much interest in considering the solutions I'm proposing.
-
I'm simply stating that nobody else wants to go through with it.
GYMO is against it, and so am I. You're the only one stubbornly pushing along for it.
(Admirable thing man, but a bit out of place right now. Better luck next demon, eh?)
So while GYMO's away for now, I'll do it.
>Stop trying to affect the water.
-
>Say the lines, too.
Also, once this is done and we can properly communicate with the Purpose again, I intend to ask it a few things about the nature of our enemy.
-
>Stop trying to affect the water.
>"It's... getting in my head."
>If the sensation fades after we stop: "I'm okay now. It happened when I tried to seperate the water from whatever that is that's in it."
>You could lose yourself here. You're rational enough to realize this. Whatever this thing is or isn't, it will consume you. Maybe it already is. And with every passing moment, you find it harder and harder to keep your hands off of the other person's throat. You have to remind yourself that she has a name, and isn't food.
>Enough is enough. You need to seperate yourself from this ooze. Even if this approach would be eventually successful, you could lose yourself- in more ways than one- in the process. Too much is at stake to fall here. You need to seperate yourself from this sludge.
>... is what part of you thinks. But you're so empty inside. There's a much simpler way, isn't there? Consume the water. Drink it all down. Make it part of yourself.
>No. No, that's not you. That's not right. This crud is doing bad things to your head. You try to pull your awareness away from it, only to feel an answering pull. A downward pull, a spiral. Caught in a whirling hunger, a spiral of consumption.
>The female next to you is talking faster now. Meaningless. Her words cannot fill you. They are not you. Consume. Her words are empty, her flesh is not. Consume. Consume. Consume. It takes all your will to resist the pull against your mind. You feel as though something is trying to tear the very soul from your body. Every fiber of your being burns with the sensation of something almost beyond comprehension tearing our your living essence.
>The viscous black smoke steaming from the ooze begins to fill the corridor ahead of you, and a wisp of the foul stuff floats across your nose. Your head swims as the alien smoke flows up your nostrils, and you feel a terrible rush. Your burning legs feel very weak, and for a moment, you think you feel yourself falling, and something moving beside you, before your consciousness leaves you.
>......
>......
>......
>......
>Your eyes flutter as you awake in a dark corridor, lit by a thin silvery light. It takes a moment for your thoughts to orient. You tried to purify the water though gentle, subtle means, but something went wrong. What you found was horrible, a consumptive drive beyond anything you'd ever imagined. Its influence made you imagine eating, eating, Kiku. And anyone else that crossed your path. But when you tried to seperate your will from the ooze, it felt like the stuff was trying to pull your soul out. And then you smelled something unbelievably foul. After that... you must have blacked out.
>You find yourself lying down, on your back. There is a paper charm on your chest. You are still in your Magical Lotus apparel. And above all these things, you are ravenously hungry.
-
>Look around.
-
>Sit up, lean against the wall if we have to.
>"Ugh...that was not something I'd want to repeat.."
-
>Look around.
>Sit up, lean against the wall if we have to.
>"Ugh...that was not something I'd want to repeat.."
>Placing a hand to your head, you groan and sit upright, voicing your perfectly understandable reluctance to try that again.
>You have a look around. You've moved back, or probably been moved back, a few feet from where you were, placing you somewhat in the right hand corridor, towards the Fresh side. The silvery light is coming from another paper talisman stuck to the wall on your left, but as to what purpose the talisman stuck to your chest serves, you're a bit less certain.
>Looking ahead, between the light behind you, the silver light of the talisman, and the 'less than natural' light coming from where the Salt corridor leads, you can discern Kiku standing in the Salt corridor, a couple feet in front of the right-turning corner, her hand upon the left wall. The dark water that nearly destroyed you appears to be absent. Or else, Kiku would be standing in that crud, and that's not a thought you'd care too much to entertain. The water seems to have replaced by a dull grey metal, and Kiku's feet and lower legs seem to be wrapped in a magical light, giving off a metallic sheen.
-
>Where's Lily?
-
>Where's Lily?
>She does not appear to be present.
-
>Let's not disturb her right now.
>Take a moment and try to examine what happened in those last few moments, and see what we can learn from this.
-
>Actually, do attempt to contact Lily, doing so through the ring. There is much danger here, and we should make sure that both of our companions are all right.
-
>Let's not disturb Great Tiger over there.
-
>Certainly. We can see her, after all. We'll check on Lily, then go to whoever we think needs our help the most.
-
>Let's not disturb her right now.
>Take a moment and try to examine what happened in those last few moments, and see what we can learn from this.
>Electing to leave Lily be for the moment, you decide to gather your thoughts on just what happened to you. What you sensed when you reached out with your mind to touch that liquid was unlike anything you'd ever encountered. Anything you'd ever imagined. It wasn't like what you sensed when you were in contact with either of the two demons you know to be on this world. That thing was no youma, that's for certain.
>There seemed to be nothing to it- Nothing but a drive to consume. That's how you think you would describe it, now that you have the time to think, and are free its influence. It wasn't really so much a 'need' as a 'drive'. Something even simpler than instinct. If that thing WAS a life form, it was probably a very simple one, simpler than even an insect. And you can't be 100% even of that much. Its influence on you was incredibly pronounced, your mind was clouded by that alien drive. Were you not so strong of mind, you honestly believe that alien influence would have led you to try and rip Kiku's throat out and drink her blood hot from the vein. The thought makes a cold chill run down your spine in fear. You were genuinely close...
>And it definately inspired 'hunger' in you, whereas it didn't seem to 'hunger', in that it needed to be fed, so much as that's all it did. Perhaps, because you are clearly a sentient being, that drive was able to influence your higher faculties. You recognized that drive as hunger, whereas it may not have had that capacity. You dread to think what would have happened if that muck had touched the mind of someone else. And this thing was sitting underneath a facility designed to aid newborn youkai. It's a terrible thought.
>And yet, for a moment back there, you did have a sense that there was something more, some sense that beneath that drive, that single drive. But because so much of you mind was corrupted by that taint, and you had to devote nearly all your willpower to not tearing Kiku's arms off with your teeth, you've no idea what that could have been.
>As for why that smoke made you pass out, that much at least seems easier to discern. Your body shut down when you inhaled something so alien. Either that, or.... something worse. But you SEEM fine, now, at least physically, at least past the understandable sense of muddled in your head, and the fact that you feel like you haven't eaten in nearly a year, if not longer.
>Actually, do attempt to contact Lily, doing so through the ring. There is much danger here, and we should make sure that both of our companions are all right.
>Let's not disturb Great Tiger over there.
>Certainly. We can see her, after all. We'll check on Lily, then go to whoever we think needs our help the most.
>After debating the merits of trying to get into contact with Lily, you then decide to give it a shot, and raise your ring up, and speak quietly into it, reaching out to your winged partner.
>"You're awake!" Lily voice comes back strong over your ring, relief very strong in her bright voice. For some reason, hearing her voice makes you feel better. "Thank goodness... Are you all right?"
-
>"I think so, though I could just about ravage some fried rice about now... What's been happening up there?"
>Do we feel like we could have held it off if we stayed more focused on the task, or did it seem to be be that much greater than we are?
-
>"I think so, though I could just about ravage some fried rice about now... What's been happening up there?"
>Do we feel like we could have held it off if we stayed more focused on the task, or did it seem to be be that much greater than we are?
>"Well, Saigyouji-san came back down, had the information we asked him about. Though Kiku thought, and I agree, that we probably don't need to worry about the demon being in the sewers anymore. And after that, the water on the drains up here started bubbling. Like it was boiling, cept no steam. Don't think it was hot. I started looking around up here, and all the drains I've found have had their water go all bubbly like that. Kiku thought I should stay up here, keep an eye on it. Said that you seemed okay, and that she had a handle on things. Least for now. So I've been scouting the place, and this place is HUGE. Lots of boxes and shelves up here. Be a lot easier if I could fly."
>"Oh, and Saigyuoji-san went back upstairs, so he's safe."
>Difficult to say. Even if this thing was some kind of simplistic organism, or something created by this demon, what you felt was on a terrifying scale. Thinking on it, you would guess that, if you continued trying to affect the water the way you were, it would have taken every ounce of your strength to remain yourself, and not succumb to the urge to consume. And even then, you're not entirely certain you could have kept that up long enough.
>On the other hand, your efforts WERE having an effect on the ooze of some sort. It's not impossible that you would have won out, although what effect this would have, or form it would take, is hard to say. Plus, you're not certain you would have been unchanged by the attempt. As it was, you came away amazingly hungry, and you haven't taken your eyes off Kiku's arms, either, and it's not because you're envious of her biceps. Any more contact with the ooze than you had may have had even more drastic consequences, assuming you even survived the effort.
>Being the person you are, you don't regret the attempt. But in this case, you may well have been been trying to wrestle a group of tornados to the ground. It may have simply been beyond you. This time.
-
>Do we feel drained and such that usually comes with hunger, or do we feel otherwise alright?
-
>Do we feel drained and such that usually comes with hunger, or do we feel otherwise alright?
>Not as bad as you might think, given how utterly famished you feel. It's an odd sensation. You don't feel perfect, by any stretch of the imagination, but you're still quite functional. If anything, you feel like you've woken up after an especially deep sleep, and while your mind may be awake, your body hasn't caught up just yet. And it really, REALLY needs breakfast.
-
>Then we know it to be false. Take a moment, relax, and focus. Drive this false impulse out of our mind. It does not match reality, and in reality we have overcome our impulses in pursuit of enlightenment. This hunger is fake.
-
>Then we know it to be false. Take a moment, relax, and focus. Drive this false impulse out of our mind. It does not match reality, and in reality we have overcome our impulses in pursuit of enlightenment. This hunger is fake.
>Best to rid yourself of this impurity before anything else happens.
>You close your eyes and draw into yourself, reasserting your buddhist beliefs as a bastion of strength and purity against the touch of consumption that had you in its grasp.
>While your efforts seem to help your body regain its strength, and your head clears, your hunger endures.
-
>Does it feel any weaker in light of our recovery, otherwise?
-
>Does it feel any weaker in light of our recovery, otherwise?
>It does not.
-
>Then we have more proof that it is a fake impulse. Set it aside, for we know that we are nourished in body and soul, our strength remains and our will is our own. Set the hunger aside, for it is no more a part of us than the floor that we sit upon.
-
You still think it's fake? I ain't seeing it here, mind pointing out to me where exactly you see what tells you it's fake?
-
>Then we have more proof that it is a fake impulse. Set it aside, for we know that we are nourished in body and soul, our strength remains and our will is our own. Set the hunger aside, for it is no more a part of us than the floor that we sit upon.
>Your efforts once again do nothing to reduce or remove your hunger, as demonstrated by the sizable growl your stomach produces. That's almost embarrassing.
>Kiku finally turns away from her inspection of the wall, and looks back in your direction. Perhaps it's a trick of the light, but you think you saw her smile, for a fleeting instant.
-
There's no physical effects. Extraordinary hunger does not just happen, it is accompanied by other things, which we've established are not present. It's illusionary or it's due to outside influence. Either way, it's not real. We've simply not addressed the problem correctly yet.
>"...Do I want to know what I ended up doing?"
-
I wouldn't be too sure about it not being real, keep in mind that there's Magic and Youkai.
There can very easily be a magic to induce hunger, or some other means of artificially creating genuine hunger.
Plus, consider how much of our energy we had to have plowed through pulling what you had us trying earlier.
I dunno about you man, but I'd sure as hell be hungry after all that.
-
Yes, do remember that we're dealing with the supernatural here, even by the standards of a world with youkai and magic. Going by how things work in real life probably isn't going to get you very far.
-
We have no real evidence to link what we do and hunger. Tiredness yes, which we lack in an appreciable amount, but not hunger. So the evidence doesn't really support that assumption.
Also, magically induced is still fake, and thus should be within our purview to break. We just need to find the right way.
Guy: Following that logic, let's assume Kanako did everything, and go beat her up right now. If you toss rationality out the window, then there's no point to trying to solve a problem at all.
-
>"...Do I want to know what I ended up doing?"
>The tiger youkai starts walking towards you as you ask your question.
>"I was hoping you could tell me. I could sense some kind of connection between you and that liquid, but I couldn't sense what was going on. Only that it was bad for you, I could gather that even before you fell over. I was in the middle of chanting a spell to break that connection, but you collapsed before I finished."
-
>"Ah, I was trying to disconnect towards the end as well. I realized I was in over my head. At first I thought I could purify it, but look at what ended up occurring."
-
>"Ah, I was trying to disconnect towards the end as well. I realized I was in over my head. At first I thought I could purify it, but look at what ended up occurring."
>Kiku nods thoughtfully. The sheen around her feet dissapears as she steps off the metal and closes on you. "I suspected something like that. When I turned my attention towards it after your collapse, I sensed an instability that was not there before. I was able to capitalize on that weakness, and transmute the 'liquid' to lead. After I carried you away from it, and expelled that smoke from you, that is."
>She stops in front you, and looks you up and down. "That smoke you inhaled was like nothing I've ever encountered before. I actually thought it was poison, of some kind, but I couldn't come close to identifying it. How do you feel?"
-
>"Aside from being in need of a good, home-cooked meal, I am alright."
-
>"Aside from being in need of a good, home-cooked meal, I am alright."
>"Good."
>The miko extends her hand out to you, offering to help you up.
-
>Let's accept it. We do consider her a friend of course. "My thanks."
-
>Let's accept it. We do consider her a friend of course. "My thanks."
>Kiku helps you get to your feet. She has quite a strong grip.
>"I've been in contact with Lily, while you were out. There's been some activity above us, as well."
-
>Nod. "Yes, I heard from Lily that the drains started bubbling, as if something was boiling the water."
-
>Nod. "Yes, I heard from Lily that the drains started bubbling, as if something was boiling the water."
>"You've been in contact with her since you regained consciousness, then. Did she note any further activity, any sign of the enemy?"
-
>"Nothing much aside from that little thing about the water, which I assume was likely a result of what you were doing."
>Let's do a quick scan to see if anything's off still.
-
>"Nothing much aside from that little thing about the water, which I assume was likely a result of what you were doing."
>Let's do a quick scan to see if anything's off still.
>"Actually, I think it was because of what you were doing. From what Lily told me, the water started bubbling up there before I neutralized the ooze. Or whatever that stuff was. I don't believe it was water, or if it was, it was tainted beyond all recognition."
>You attempt to sweep the area around you, to see what's changed since you tried to influence the ooze, but this returns a curious sensation. You don't sense anything. Not even the sense of dank, dirty dampness in the air around you. Nothing beyond yourself.
-
>That's....Mildly disconcerting.
>"...That's odd. I attempted to sense for anything else that might be off, but I can't feel anything but my own usual presence. Not even the atmosphere of the area."
-
>That's....Mildly disconcerting.
>"...That's odd. I attempted to sense for anything else that might be off, but I can't feel anything but my own usual presence. Not even the atmosphere of the area."
>Quite so.
>"Ah, yes. That. My apologies, but, that was my doing." She points at the talismen that's still stuck to your chest. "That's a shielding and warding charm. I wanted to ensure your protection while I was focused on the ooze, so I placed that on you. It's a strong shield against most supernatural attacks, and an alarm for me as well, but it has the drawback of dampening outgoing powers. Your senses should be normal once it is removed."
-
>"...Ah. I was wondering about that."
-
>"...Ah. I was wondering about that."
>"Excuse me." Kiku says, and reaches out to take a hold of the paper stuck to you. But she pauses after taking a hold of it. "Come to think of it, how were you able to contact Lily with this still active?" she wonders aloud, before shaking her head. "I'll assume it's some aspect of your power that I don't fully understand. We can theorize later."
>Kiku pulls the charm off your body, and instantenously, you become aware of the sensation of being surrounded by a foul dark water again. Although this sensation seems lessened, somewhat, the air a bit less foul than it was before. The bad smell in the air, now that you notice, also seems lessened, although you have a curious tingling in your nose. Like you're about to sneeze.
>You also become aware of the magical auras given off by the light-emitting paper on the wall near you, as well as another that Kiku has placed on the right hand wall down the Salt corridor, though the charm that was attached to you seems as inert as normal paper.
-
>Suppress the urge to sneeze, that we can at least suppress. "Well, it seems as if that foul feeling has lessened somewhat."
>"But yes, it's another ability. Though I too am surprised it worked."
-
>Suppress the urge to sneeze, that we can at least suppress. "Well, it seems as if that foul feeling has lessened somewhat."
>"But yes, it's another ability. Though I too am surprised it worked."
>You sniff once, quietly, but fight off the sneeze. The tingling persists, though.
>"Well, we may have dealt with one threat, but I'm afraid I've discovered a complication in pinpointing our enemy." She takes a step to the side and turns side on to you, point back down the Salt corridor. "I still can't detect the demon, specifically, so I've been trying to find anomalous metal instead. There's a lot of brass metal concentrated beyond that corner down there, a much denser concentration than there should be, beyond anything I can acount for. Unless they have a group of large brass statues in there. And even then, there's something off. It doesn't feel like normal brass."
>"And on top of that, I've sensed a large chamber about 20 or so feet below us, that seems to be walled and surrounded entirely by lead, and what I think is vanadium."
-
>Raise an eyebrow. "That is rather a lot of precious metals. I must confess, that does strike me as rather odd as well. Perhaps we should consult Mr. Saigyouji on that matter."
-
We have no real evidence to link what we do and hunger. Tiredness yes, which we lack in an appreciable amount, but not hunger. So the evidence doesn't really support that assumption.
Also, magically induced is still fake, and thus should be within our purview to break. We just need to find the right way.
Guy: Following that logic, let's assume Kanako did everything, and go beat her up right now. If you toss rationality out the window, then there's no point to trying to solve a problem at all.
When did I say to toss rationality out the window? I only said that we can't assume things work the way they do in real life. All that means is that they work differently. The rules are different, but there are rules.
Also, how does being magically induced mean it's fake? If, say, magic is used to burn you with fire, those burns aren't fake. Magically induced injuries are still real injuries; why wouldn't magically induced hunger still be real hunger?
-
>"Is there anything special about vanadium?"
>Presumably we are aware of lead's radiation-blocking features?
-
>Raise an eyebrow. "That is rather a lot of precious metals. I must confess, that does strike me as rather odd as well. Perhaps we should consult Mr. Saigyouji on that matter."
>Kiku looks thoughtful. "I hesitate to head back upstairs, after coming this far down here. Not the least reason being, I'm not completely convinced that ooze is completely inert. I may have transformed it, and I certainly can't sense anything from it, but it was so... alien, I cannot be certain it's been destroyed. Whatever it was."
>"Is there anything special about vanadium?"
>Presumably we are aware of lead's radiation-blocking features?
>"Something about it sounds familiar..." Kiku half covers her mouth with her hand, thinking. After a few seconds, she snaps her fingers. "Now I remember. It is said to impede communication from spiritual beings of the elements fire and air, and boost communication between elementals of earth and forest. Earth and forest energy could also be transmitted more easily through it, and the reverse is true for air and fire. But no magics of our order was affected one way or the other, that I am aware of, so the properties of that particular element have not been deeply explored by the Metal Mikos."
>"I think it was also used as a defense against the magiks of the Lunarians during the Second war, but that is not my area of expertise."
>You are indeed.
-
>What do we we know about these various spirits of air, fire, and so on. Has anything we've done fallen understand that classification system, or anything we've seen the enemy do? (Or if it's easier, have either of us broken outside of it)
-
>What do we we know about these various spirits of air, fire, and so on. Has anything we've done fallen understand that classification system, or anything we've seen the enemy do? (Or if it's easier, have either of us broken outside of it)
>The extent of your knowledge about the magical spirits of the various elements is not much beyond that they exist. Patchouli mentioned the six elements of magic once or twice, in passing, and that her family had a particular affinity for the element of Water, but not much else.
>You also are aware that different magics use different elements as their base. Kiku and her order, for instance, use the five elements of the Beasts: Water, Earth, Wood, Fire and Metal. As a miko of the Metal Tiger, and from what you've seen of Kiku's power, it's a very safe bet she specializes in Metal magic.
>The properties she mentioned vanadium possesses would seem to affect the Six element system of the west: Fire, Ice, Water, Earth, Forest and Air.
>The powers you've demonstrated so far do not seem to rigidly adhere to either one of those systems, or any system of magic you're aware of.
>As regards to the enemy, you've not seen much concrete about them. The two youma the first demon created were made of a gold ring, and then a gold pendant, so it's possible she could be a specialist in Metal magic herself, if not a Metal spirit, assuming such a thing exists.
>In terms of the second demon, the one you're tracking now, the sensations and phenomenon you've encountered so far would lead you to suspect that it has an affinity for Water, albeit the dark, sinister, evil side of water. Considering that Water is an element of both systems, and you know next to nothing about either one, you wouldn't be able to guess which system this demon is using, or belongs to. Assuming it belongs to either one.
-
You're a bro, Sour.
>"So, what did you see up ahead?"
-
>"Hmm...Judging from past experiences, it would seem that whatever is behind the Youma follows the elements. The first two I encountered were a gold ring, and a gold locket respectively, Metal element. And now we've encountered something possibly related to Water, that strange ooze."
-
You're a bro, Sour.
>"So, what did you see up ahead?"
Thanks! ..... What did I do?
>"I've yet to actually look around the corner. I wanted to finish my scans of the lead chamber below us before I further explored the area beyond. I had just confirmed the vanadium content when I noticed you had regained consciousness."
>"Plus... Shielding charm or no, I didn't want to run across anything else while you were still incapacitated. Not without having a clear idea what I- WE were facing."
>"Hmm...Judging from past experiences, it would seem that whatever is behind the Youma follows the elements. The first two I encountered were a gold ring, and a gold locket respectively, Metal element. And now we've encountered something possibly related to Water, that strange ooze."
>Kiku gives you a small, brief smile. "An interesting theory, and clever reasoning." she compliments, before her smile fades. "However, I have to disagree with you, at least about the Metal part. I am a master of the Metal element, the strongestsecondstrongest miko at this shrine, and what I sensed in that youma back at Yakumo Jewelers was no Metal magic. It is possible, of course, that that demon has some form of metallic magic, or perhaps simply an affinity for gold, but no magic of the Metal school was in that youma. One can use metal in magic without it being Metal magic, as odd as that may sound."
>"But Water... You may have something there." The youkai pauses to draw a measured breath. "You'll recall, before we entered the record hall above, I described to you a vision of black water, of a hungering sea with no bottom, no shore. That sensation came over me again as my magic was affecting that ooze. Assuming the ooze was a creation or servant of the demon, that demon may indeed have some connection to the water element. But if it does, I would guess it is not the Water of the five elements of the Beasts, but rather some kind of water magic from its own world."
-
>Nod. "That is possible, but there's also a possibility for it to be metal-aligned, since the demon that created those Youma was nowhere to be found. Whereas it's quite likely that the one that created that ooze could still be around."
>"And, and you likely already know, there's another set of elemental magics, the 6 Elements. Fire, Ice, Water, Earth, Metal, and Air. So it's possible that these demons may be operating from that one."
-
>"Or, as likely, they have developed their own basis of understanding magic."
>Examine the water again. Does it seem to be staying reasonably clean?
-
>Nod. "That is possible, but there's also a possibility for it to be metal-aligned, since the demon that created those Youma was nowhere to be found. Whereas it's quite likely that the one that created that ooze could still be around."
>"And, and you likely already know, there's another set of elemental magics, the 6 Elements. Fire, Ice, Water, Earth, Metal, and Air. So it's possible that these demons may be operating from that one."
>"Or, as likely, they have developed their own basis of understanding magic."
>"Forest, Lotus. The Six elements use Forest, not Metal. Metal is exclusive to the elements of the Beasts."
>"But you're right, they could be employing that system, or their own. In fact, given that their kind originates from another Realm, it's quite likely indeed they would have their own magiks. The Lunarians had their own brand as well, and they originate from this Realm."
>Examine the water again. Does it seem to be staying reasonably clean?
>Which water are you referring to?
-
>"...Ah, right, forgive my little mistake. I wasn't quite thinking straight there."
-
>The water we were messing with earlier, which Kiku was working of (assuming I got my facts right)
-
>The water we were messing with earlier, which Kiku was working of (assuming I got my facts right)
>The dark water was transformed by Kiku into a sheet of lead after you blacked out. It has been quite immobile since you regained consciousness.
>"...Ah, right, forgive my little mistake. I wasn't quite thinking straight there."
>"Quite understandable."
>"But on the matter at hand, I don't think we should set in stone in our minds that this demon, or any of them, are exclusive users of one element. It may well be the case that they specialize, as you say, but for all we know, this demon could introduce herself to us via a barrage of fireballs. I myself have specialized in Metal, obviously, but I can draw upon the other elements as well, other than Fire."
>Kiku pauses for a moment, as if considering what she just said, then scowls for an instant, before her face returns to normal. "The same could be true for them as well."
-
>Nod. "That too is a quite valid probability. We should be more careful from here, much more careful."
-
>"It would be wisest to anticipate it in every case, until we can confirm otherwise. No point in underestimating the enemy."
>Do we feel able to stand and move around decently enough that we wouldn't be a problem if something attacks us?
-
>Nod. "That too is a quite valid probability. We should be more careful from here, much more careful."
>"It would be wisest to anticipate it in every case, until we can confirm otherwise. No point in underestimating the enemy."
>"Agreed."
>Do we feel able to stand and move around decently enough that we wouldn't be a problem if something attacks us?
>You are currently standing, and you believe moving should pose no problem.
-
>"Shall we move on?"
>Glance toward the lead.
>"How long shall that remain there?"
-
>"Shall we move on?"
>Glance toward the lead.
>"How long shall that remain there?"
>Kiku hesitates a second before answering your second question. "Ordinarily? Until I dispelled the spell. But with that ooze? I have to be honest, Lotus, I really don't know. It felt like that liquid was literally from another world. Without your efforts, I can't say that my magic would have affected it at all, let alone how long it will continue."
>Kiku gestures down at her feet, but as she does, you sense your ring react to something again. The same sensation you got outside when Kiku and Chie were together. Well, more like, half of it.
>"You may have noticed a metallic light around my legs earlier." she continues. "That was a warding spell, as well, just in case my spell against the ooze wasn't completely effective and enduring."
>"As for moving on, well, that's something else I wanted to wait for you to wake up before deciding. I was uncertain which one to explore first, and I didn't want to leave you behind, nor did I wish to carry you, for that would have left us both open to ambush."
-
>"Have you sensed anything from that direction?"
>Gesture toward the freshwater hall.
-
>"Have you sensed anything from that direction?"
>Gesture toward the freshwater hall.
>Kiku shakes her head. "Nothing out of the ordinary."
-
>"Then it doesn't seem like we'd find much there."
-
>"Then it doesn't seem like we'd find much there."
>Kiku nods.
>"I would start with around the 'salt' corner, where the brass is, myself. But that lead and vanadium chamber down there confused me. I find myself at a loss to explain it."
-
>"We will likely have to see it for ourselves to make sense of it, if that is possible."
>Frown.
>"Could you remind me of the mystic properties of lead? I know it's more mundane uses..."
-
>"We will likely have to see it for ourselves to make sense of it, if that is possible."
>Frown.
>"Could you remind me of the mystic properties of lead? I know it's more mundane uses..."
>"I believe it to be possible." She points towards the left hand wall. "I found an inconsistency in that wall, which I believe to be a door of some kind. I haven't found the switch to activate that door, but that should not prove too difficult."
>"Lead..." Kiku makes a thoughtful noise as she searches her memory. "Well, it bears a similarity to iron in that a large number of nature spirits have a sensitivity to it, an aversion. However, unlike cold iron, lead is more useful as a binding agent when seeking to capture or restrain a spirit, as opposed to a weapon, though it can be used in that capacity. And it can be as poisonous to spirits as it is to humans."
>"Lead is fairly useful when enchanted, though not as much as silver, or palladium. And it's one of the more easily useable metals among specialists in Metal magic. That's one of the reasons I used lead on that ooze, so thta if it worked, I could use it in my spells again-"
>At that point, Lily's voice comes over your ring, and from within Kiku's robes, interrupting the feline miko. "Uh, girls? I've found something different and weird up here."
-
>"Um, Kiku? How did Lily's voice come from... whatever in came from on you?"
>"What is it, Lily?"
-
>"Um, Kiku? How did Lily's voice come from... whatever in came from on you?"
>"What is it, Lily?"
>Kiku produces a small piece of paper shaped like a little person, with a little line of orange around its waist. "You'll recall I gave one of these to Lily before we came down here. As I said then, these shikigami allow me to communicate with people over moderate distances."
>"Well, I'm in the 'Z' section of the records up here- Did I mention this place was big? Anyway, I'm in Z, and I found where there should be another drain. Now, every drain I've found so far has been covered in bubbling water, but this one isn't. It's covered by some kinda metal. Looks like the kind of metal they make some school sports statues out of, uh.... brass, I think? Or was it copper?"
-
>"I believe we'll find more pieces of the puzzle if we go up to her. And seeing as how lead, as you mentioned earlier, is a Sealing-Type Metal, we should be fine."
-
>"I believe we'll find more pieces of the puzzle if we go up to her. And seeing as how lead, as you mentioned earlier, is a Sealing-Type Metal, we should be fine."
>Kiku seems somewhat pensive at your suggestion. "Under normal circumstances, I would agree. But in this case, I just don't know..." She raises the shikigami in her hand slightly. "Lily, have you found anything else around that metal? Anything out of the ordinary."
>"Well not yet." Lily's voice seems a bit more hollow through the paper communicator, more distant, somehow. "If it's like the water, kinda didn't wanna get too close to it. But I don't see anything too weird from this side. I'm gonna go down the next aisle and have a look from the other side of it."
>"Be wary, Lily. We've already encountered one thing that could have been an enemy trap, this could well be another."
>"No worries, Kiku! I got my eyes wiiiiiiide open."
>"Indeed." Kiku states simply, before lowering the charm, and turning her eyes to you. "I know nothing of your comrades' power, beyond her ability to create pleasant scents. Assuming that is a trap of some kind, will she be all right on her own?"
-
>"It may be best to assist her."
-
>"It may be best to assist her."
>She nods, pauses, then says, "I'll stay down here. I want to keep an eye on this ooze, and get a better look at that lead chamber below us."
-
>Nod.
>"Alright. Don't hesitate to contact us if trouble finds you. Oh. a thought occurs to me, can you tell how long these metals have been down here?"
>Head back up once she answers.
-
>Nod.
>"Alright. Don't hesitate to contact us if trouble finds you. Oh. a thought occurs to me, can you tell how long these metals have been down here?"
>Head back up once she answers.
>Kiku produces another one of those communication shikigami of hers and hands it you. "Just in case."
>"Given the interference, I can't be as certain as I would normally. But if I were to put a number on the lead, at least, I would put it at at least 35 years. Probably more, but I couldn't say how much more. As for the vanadium, I'm not familiar enough with that metal to be able to guess, not without a closer, more detailed analysis. The brass feels newer, less than a year old, I would guess. Maybe a matter of months."
>Your stomach growls once more as you part ways with Kiku, she beginning another spell chant as you head back towards the stairs, recreating your little ball of light to illuminate your steps.
>All is quiet as you emerge from the other side of the dark cloud, until you hear Kiku's voice come over the paper as you near the staircase leading up. "Lily, I just ran a brief divination over that brass puddle you found. It's unnatural. It has a power I can't identify all over it, and what I think is an organic component. Beware."
-
>"I'm on the way Lily, don't try anything with it just yet until I get there."
>Let's head to Lily.
-
>"I'm on the way Lily, don't try anything with it just yet until I get there."
>Let's head to Lily.
>Lily does not answer either your warning or Kiku's That's somewhat worrisome. And a possible explanation for this reveals itself as you hasten up the stairs. You hear the distant sounds of what you would describe as energy discharges.
>You practically fly up the remaining stairs, and re-enter the little cafeteria, and look about you, looking for Lily. While you do not see her, there is another sound of discharging energy, and a flash of yellow light, far to your right, beyond what you assume to be many more rows of records.
>However, you yourself may have a more immediate problem. One of the bubbling puddles of water that Lily talked about is moving. Moving across the floor. When you see it, it is just outside the cafeteria, and is heading straight across the floor. However, it stops as soon as you make yourself visible.
-
>Do we sense anything new or different about it from before?
-
>Do we sense anything new or different about it from before?
>Focusing on it, there is a force acting upon it that was not there before. There seems to be some kind of 'tether' of magical energy leading back to your right, towards where the energy discharges seem to be coming from. Another tether extends behind the visible puddle, out of your visual field.
-
>"Lilly! What's happening!?"
-
>"Lilly! What's happening!?"
>Lily's voice answers you some distance away, "This crazy lady star-!"
>"I'm NOT CRAZY!" a strange, shrill female voice shrieks, and her declaration is punctuated by another flash of yellow light, and the sound of energy.
>The water resumes moving, this time right towards you.
-
Mmm, there's an in already.
>How large is this puddle of water? How fast is it? How much is it defying gravity; does it give us the feeling it could reach upward?
-
>How large is this puddle of water? How fast is it? How much is it defying gravity; does it give us the feeling it could reach upward?
>It is approximately a foot and a half in diameter, roughly circular when it was stationary, distended slightly towards you now.
>At the speed it is moving, it will reach you in less than 10 seconds, which is pretty quick for a puddle.
>Although it is currently on the ground, given the fact that it is moving at all, it seems entirely possible that it could reach upwards in some way.
-
>Step to the side a couple steps, and give it a second to see if it changes course.
I think we may be able to leap over it. But that really doesn't solve the problem at hand. I would suggest taking time to cleanse it of manipulation, but I am not all that certain we have time.
-
Since we're pressed for time, I say we just give it a dose of Lotus Purification to get it out of the way.
A somewhat violent measure, but Lily's in danger, so we lack the time. I trust you aren't in opposition to this logic?
-
Not really. I'd hope we'd get lucky and could just dodge around it, though.
-
Eh, I've run over most of the possible scenarios in my head, and this was the course most likely to succeed.
-
>Step to the side a couple steps, and give it a second to see if it changes course.
>Taking a couple hasty steps to the side, you note that the water does indeed change course to follow you.
>A second puddle comes into view, out from under the shelves to your left.
-
>"I'll be there in a moment! Try to keep things from escalating!"
>Is there anything in our experience to suggest that Lotus Purification definitely won't return this water to normal? Or at least to non-hostile?
-
>"I'll be there in a moment! Try to keep things from escalating!"
>Is there anything in our experience to suggest that Lotus Purification definitely won't return this water to normal? Or at least to non-hostile?
>"There's another one of you?" the strange woman yells.
>"Heroes never fly alone!" Lily retorts.
>You are not aware of any reason why this should be impossible.
-
>Purify that puddle.
-
>Purify both puddles with it at that.
-
>One at a time, though.
-
>Let's just purify the nearer one now, the other will take a moment to get to us, and we want to observe what happens before doing it twice. Might need to vault over the first after all.
-
>Purify that puddle.
>Purify both puddles with it at that.
>One at a time, though.
>Let's just purify the nearer one now, the other will take a moment to get to us, and we want to observe what happens before doing it twice. Might need to vault over the first after all.
>You decide to take the methodical approach to dealing with your water problem.
>Calling forth your baton, you direct it at the first puddle and unleash your sanctifying light. The bubbling water halts in its tracks, and the dull yellow energy attached to it dissipates under your power. The water stops its bubbling, and loses its circular shape, spreading out over the floor like a spilled glass.
>The second puddle continues its advance.
>Nearly simultaneous to your attack, Lily's voice rings out, "Lily Petal Cyclone!", and the sound of rushing air fills the area. The angry female voice shrieks in surprise.
-
>Does the first puddle seem to be normal water now? If so, turn our attention towars the second puddle, then go to Lily's aid.
-
>Does the first puddle seem to be normal water now? If so, turn our attention towars the second puddle, then go to Lily's aid.
>It does indeed, and so you turn your attention to the second puddle. This one has time enough to reform slightly, what looks like the beginnings of a blade of some kind, before you unleash your light upon it. Exactly like the first one, the bubbling stops, the tether of energy snaps and dissapears, and the puddle spreads out over the floor harmlessly, the blade-like thing making a small splash.
>Your stomach growls in hunger again.
>"Hah!" Lily crows, "Didn't see that comin, did y- Whai, wha-!?" her voice cuts off with an odd gargling sound.
>Now alarmed, you rush towards the stacks of shelves, which seem to be laid out identically to the ones behind you. The woman's voice, and the sounds of swirling air, seem to be coming from your right, so you head in that way, rapidly, making a left turn when you reach the end of the shelf aisle.
>Before you, about 20 or so feet away, in midair, is a large swirl of pink, red, blue and yellow flower petals, encircling and swirling around a writing humanoid female form, which has its arms drawn around her head to ward off the petals from her face. Your eyes reveal a foul otherworldly light around a glowing ring on her left hand. She exudes a similar aura of tainted energy, though this appears to be muted somewhat.
>Of Lily, there is no sign.
-
>"Stop!"
-
>"Stop!"
>The woman glances down at you, her eyes a tempest of rage, jealousy and hatred. You can see a glowing yellow stripe on her face, running from forehead to chin, passing over her eye.
>"Another? Well. I'll stop you just like I stopped your friend!"
-
>What can we sense about her?
>Have we noticed any sign of Lily yet?
Alright, I think the most IC thing to do right now is to try to keep things calm and descalate the situation. Play defensive, if needs be. Rescue Lily, if she's in real danger, but try to negotiate for her freedom if she's just restrained. Admittedly, chances are this won't work, but one must recognize the Buddha nature in others, and give them a couple chances.
-
>What can we sense about her?
>The aura she exudes matches the emotions in her eyes: consuming jealousy and desperate fear, driving a burning hatred. The gives her the impression of an individual that's not entirely stable.
>But it also seethes with otherworldly energy. Different than what you've sensed in youma, but something very close to it. The corruptive taint of demonic energy. It seems to be centered around the either glowing ring on her hand, or the stripe on her face, you can't be certain.
>Similar tethers to the ones that were attached to the two puddles you sanctified all seem to be connected to her ring. There appear to be at least five more, four of which extend behind her, one into the aisle she's next to.
-
I say we cut the tethers, that'll make it easier to reason with her.
Consider it a 'Forced Disarming'.
-
Agreed
-
>Have we noticed any sign of Lily yet?
>You have not.
-
Let's not do that first thing, but if she goes on the offensive then it's a good move after, let's say the second or third attack. Reacting instantly to an attack with violence weakens our sincerity a bit; makes it seem like any talk was just a trick. Unless she hurts Lily, then disarming is necessary.
>"There's no need for any more conflict. Despite how it may appear at a glance, I am not here to hurt you."
>Where do those other tethers seem to go?
-
*Still agrees with Hanzo*.
-
It's not technically violence if we're preventing her from escalating.
Besides, you can do your peaceful talks once she's been disarmed. Don't forget that.
-
>Where do those other tethers seem to go?
>You can't see the ends of the five energy tethers, the four that travel behind her are obscured completely by boxes and shelves. The one that extends into the aisle beside her is also largely obscured, but you think you can make out what seems to be water through the boxes, some feet off the ground. And vertical, but stationary.
>"There's no need for any more conflict. Despite how it may appear at a glance, I am not here to hurt you."
>"You're here to take him, just like the others! But I can stop you. Yes, I have power to stop anyone now. You won't keep me from him."
>She draws her arms and legs in closer to herself, and the energy around her starts to concentrate and build.
-
>"...Him? Is it someone you care for? You don't need power to love someone."
-
>"...Him? Is it someone you care for? You don't need power to love someone."
>"yyyyyeeESSS!" she roars, throwing her arms and legs out from her, the concentrated energy exploding out from her. The swirling flower petals around her are blown away, and disintegrate into thin air. The air displaced by her eruption blows your hair back.
>She lowers her head to look upon you with her mad eyes once more. "I made him mine. And I'll keep him. And you two will be just like the others: food! Brass for the black water!"
-
Well guys, I'm pretty crazy myself, but she's nuttier than a fruitcake. Then again, they do say that "Love Makes You Crazy".
But I've seen folks this crazy in the past, sometimes you just gotta knock some sense into 'em. The hard way.
-
She hasn't actually attacked us yet. And finding Lily is a priority now.
>"Why would you want to do that?"
>Try to open our senses more toward Lily. Can we feel anything about her?
-
She's windin' up for that though.
And don't forget that Byakuren's also the practical sort that knows sometimes people don't listen to words, and need to be convinced by other means.
-
Then we dodge or defend. Buddhism also forbids violence and eschews confrontational stuff, (or at least otherizes it in the case of stuff like Zen, which is bullshit if you think about it even a medium amount)
If you have some non-confrontational solution in mind, though, I'm pretty interested in it. I kinda have blinders on toward trying to talk through it or play defensively, so if there's a another way I haven't really figured it out.
Edit: Forgot to mention: She really isn't the practical type, at least not in the realpolitik strike-before-being-struck sense. Recall that Byakuren was sealed away for supporting youkai over humans in an era where, presumably, they were fairly oppressed. If she were practical in the sense you are talking about, she never would have let it slip enough to be seen as a big enough danger to be sealed. Idealism toward the best path definitely wins out over practicality for her, and in this case the best path is certainly not having to raise a hand in violence.
-
Well, the plan is to sever the tethers, thus depriving her of access to the pools. (And thus, one of her means of fighting.)
From there, -and you'll probably be opposed to this-, we use lotus purification when she attacks, -which she no-doubt will-, which will hopefully weaken her enough for her to be more open to how you want to do things.
Even though common sense(and past events in this very quest) have shown that when someone, or something, have gotten like this, you've gotta knock a little sense back into them to get them to listen.
-
Yeah, that was pretty much what I would advocate if/when conflict becomes unavoidable. The thing is, I'm leery about doing it as a first or second strike, as it would suggest insincerity on the part of her entreaties toward not needing to fight. So yeah, instant counters would ICly be right out.
Lily's the key, though. If she's in danger, we'd end up having to act much sooner. Maybe not instantly (we'd still be able to ask her to stop and promise to keep Lily under control), but it'd shorten the time table considerably.
-
If Lily's in big danger though, all bets are off. Byakuren wouldn't stand for a comrade to be in danger for long.
Even my kid sis, who knows almost nothing about touhou, knows that.
-
Indeed. One request to cut it out, as it's what is required of civil and harmonious people would do, then go time.
-
Works for me.
What say you, GYMO?
-
Sure.
>"I'm not here to take anyone from you. In fact, if you release my friend, we may be able to help you defend him."
-
>Try to open our senses more toward Lily. Can we feel anything about her?
>Anxious to locate your partner, you stretch your sense out to find her through means other than your eyes. This has the sensation of deepening the sensation of grimy water all around you, as though you're deeper into a polluted lake. Which also has the effect of deadening your senses somewhat, as well, and your perception of the floating pigtailed-woman's aura diminishes slightly.
>However, as your senses drift over that anomalous patch of water down the aisle, where the woman' energy tether leads, you sense Lily's ring, and your own ring glows in recognition.
>Almost immediately, you have the sensation that Lily is somehow touching your mind, through the connection between your rings. It's not unlike what you and she experienced when you touched each others' hearts outside the Metal Tiger shrine, though obviously nowhere near that intimate. You can see her, in your mind's eye. She is trapped. The water you see is part of a large bubble, encapsulating the winged blonde. She is also restrained by what can only be described as a watery tendrill, made of a denser liquid than the bubble, preventing her escape. She is unharmed, but she also cannot breathe.
>"Why would you want to do that?"
>"I'm not here to take anyone from you. In fact, if you release my friend, we may be able to help you defend him."
>"But I don't need your help." she hisses in a reedy, breathy voice, her teeth clenched fiercely, her dirty blonde pigtails still fluttering somehow, though there is no more wind. "Not anymore. You? Help? You can't help yourself. Not from. What is coming. But I've saved him. We'll survive the End."
>You think you can sense her energy building again, albeit slower this time than before.
-
>"Then you would have nothing to lose by allowing me to help you. One cannot have too many extra precautions, wouldn't you agree? But, in order for me to help you, I am going to need you to allow my friend to go free. She won't try to harm you, I'll make certain of it."
>Try to get a better sense of the things binding Lily through her eyes and other senses; do they seem directly connected to this person?
-
>Try to get a better sense of the things binding Lily through her eyes and other senses; do they seem directly connected to this person?
>You narrow your senses to focus on the water, and the energy surrounding it and tied to it. Lily senses your intent, and lends her focus, her strength, to yours. The power that is controlling the water does, indeed, flow into and out of the ring on the woman's hand. However, you have a sense that the woman is not in complete control of this power. You can sense that her will IS guiding the energy, controlling the water, but there is another hand on the wheel, as Marissa would say.
>"Then you would have nothing to lose by allowing me to help you. One cannot have too many extra precautions, wouldn't you agree? But, in order for me to help you, I am going to need you to allow my friend to go free. She won't try to harm you, I'll make certain of it."
>"No. She won't." she hisses slowly. The womans' bangs are a light shade of purple, and they partially shade her eyes as she lowers her head, a twisted grin strectching across her face. "I've made certain of that."
>Her energy continus to build.
-
Well, I'm cutting in here man, she's tripping major red flags. So don't bother trying to override, because Lily's too at risk.
We gotta knock some sense into this broad by driving out whatever's influencing her the only way we can.
Gensokyo style. Besides, you did agree that we try one more time. I'd say she's pretty much refused that one too.
>"I've tried to reason with you, but it seems I have no other course but to make you see sense the hard way. I'll free you from that force that is controlling you."
>Sever the tethers that are connecting the water sphere and the tendril to the woman.
-
>Sever the tethers that are connecting the water sphere and the tendril to the woman.
>Did you wish to employ an existing technique to do this, or devise a new one?
-
Well, Purvis, you want to do the honors on devising a new tech?
-
Whatever we do, focus on freeing Lily first.
-
Quite so, Hanzo. If Lily weren't in the lurch, it'd be alright to spend quite a awhile dancing and dodging and trying to talk some sense. But as this is...
>Rather, say, "I am sorry, but I am afraid that cannot allow that. I understand you don't wish to trust me, but please be assured that despite this, things will be fine for you and for him."
>The Buddha teaches that attachment to desires serve as a way to bind us to the cycle of rebirth and suffering, creating a sensation know as dukkha. While we may disagree that all desires are harmful, we certainly agree that attachment to things that cause dukkha must be removed to help a person awaken toward Nirvana. In this, we see that our current target has bound herself to Lily and to the waters. Let us try to use our talents to deftly server those bindings around Lily and free her from those effects, and perhaps try to leave the person whose things were suffered a moment of peace for losing this binding. This shall be called Moment's Respite from Dukkha.
-
>Sever the tethers that are connecting the water sphere and the tendril to the woman.
>Rather, say, "I am sorry, but I am afraid that cannot allow that. I understand you don't wish to trust me, but please be assured that despite this, things will be fine for you and for him."
>The Buddha teaches that attachment to desires serve as a way to bind us to the cycle of rebirth and suffering, creating a sensation know as dukkha. While we may disagree that all desires are harmful, we certainly agree that attachment to things that cause dukkha must be removed to help a person awaken toward Nirvana. In this, we see that our current target has bound herself to Lily and to the waters. Let us try to use our talents to deftly server those bindings around Lily and free her from those effects, and perhaps try to leave the person whose things were suffered a moment of peace for losing this binding. This shall be called Moment's Respite from Dukkha.
>With the primary intent of rescuing your trapped friend, but also of disarming this crazed woman, as well as possibly resolving her less-than-rational mentality, if only for a moment, you point your scepter at the floating female. More specifically, at her ring, and the lines of energy connected to it. The woman raises her ring as a yellowish-gold light appears at the tip of your scepter, and you speak the spell,
>"Amber Lotus: Moment's Respite from Dukkha."
>A quintet of thin, tinged gold rays of light emerge from your scepter and fly, as a unit, towards the woman's ring. As they close on the target, however, they splinter off, one ray traveling down the aisle where the woman holds Lily, the other four evading the woman entirely and flying around behind her. Though these four fly out of your line of sight, in your mind's eye, you can see the fifth ray fly down the aisle and strike the large bubble holding Lily. The water bubbles again, before being suffused by the light of your attack. This light travels from the bubble back down the strand of energy coming from the woman's ring, and you can see similar lights traveling back up through the other four.
>The woman's face flashes between rage and surprise as she looks at her ring, towards the bubble, back at the other strands, at you, back at her ring, at you again, all the while her breath coming faster. "Whatareyou doing?" she blurts finally as your energy closes on her ring.
-
>Focus.
>If we feel we can speak, say. "Nothing harmful. I just need to help my friend. You should have nothing to worry about."
-
>Focus.
>If we feel we can speak, say. "Nothing harmful. I just need to help my friend. You should have nothing to worry about."
>She holds her ring up close to her face. "But this... Nothing can...."
>Her muttering grows quieter, more nonsensical, as the five lights of your power finish their trip, and contact the band on her finger. With a sound of snapping plastic, the five tethers shatter in a flash of golden light. The woman shreiks and throws her arms out away from her, dropping a foot or so down and twice that backwards.
>There are several small splashes of water from behind the woman, and one much larger splash to your left. The bubble trapping Lily, and the tendrill that had wrapped around her, falls to the floor, inert as the ones you purified before. Much to your relief, you hear Lily draw in a big breath.
>The pigtailed woman, recovering from her shock, slowly, her arm jerking somewhat, raises her ring again to inspect it. Sparks of thin yellow energy fly from it, like the end of a cut power cable, and its power seems diminished. It is intact, but damaged. The woman's face is one that has just seen something impossibly horrible.
-
>"I'm sorry, but please allow me a moment."
>Go tend to Lily, but keep a discreet eye out for follow-up aggressions from Puppeteer.
-
>"I'm sorry, but please allow me a moment."
>Go tend to Lily, but keep a discreet eye out for follow-up aggressions from Puppeteer.
>With the unstable woman disarmed, at least partially, you walk cautiously forward, towards the aisle where Lily now stands, catching her breath. The woman seems to take no notice of you, her wild eyes focused on the ring before her.
>As you close on Lily's aisle, however, the winged blonde calls out to you, "Look out, Lotus, she's crazed!"
>Barely a moment later, the woman's face contorts in mad rage, and she clenches her fist so hard you can almost HEAR her knuckles turn white. She howls, a sound more animal than human, and brings her fists together, raising them over her head. She drops from the air like a stone, and slams her fists into the floor with a resounding crashing sound. Three waves of energy, ankle high, travel out from the point of impact: one traveling to your right, traveling in an erratic zigzag up the wall; one traveling in the general direction of Lily, jumping about randomly; one traveling towards you, also zigzagging like a crazed lightning bolt. These waves appear to changing the walls to brass, as they leave trails of the gleaming metal behind them.
-
>Interpose ourselves between Lily and her blast, and try to move until they are both are coming at us. Then, invoke purification on them both, at once is possible.
-
>Interpose ourselves between Lily and her blast, and try to move until they are both are coming at us. Then, invoke purification on them both, at once is possible.
>In which direction did you wish to move? Forward, which entails at least three risks, or down the aisle next to you, which is relatively risk free to you?
-
>From what we have seen, do we feel confident enough in our speed to get to Lily by jumping over to the next aisle before the sparks reach and then dealing with them like we planned?
-
>From what we have seen, do we feel confident enough in our speed to get to Lily by jumping over to the next aisle before the sparks reach and then dealing with them like we planned?
>Based on your own speed, and the current speed of the waves, if Lily remains stationary, it will be impossible for you to get in front of the wave heading for her before it reaches her, no matter which direction you go. Pity you don't have that Superhuman card in this world.
-
>Then, as we can determine at a glance, could we reach the bolt heading toward her from here?
-
>Then, as we can determine at a glance, could we reach the bolt heading toward her from here?
>Your safest bet, if you wanted to intercept the wave heading for Lily, would be to travel down the aisle next to you, and circle around. Trying to catch up to it and intercept it from behind would be all but impossible.
-
>With our purification, or physically? I meant to imply the latter.
-
Okay, pause.
>Would using the purification theoretically work to block the attack?
-
Next thread.