Remilia Quest

[Oldmansour]

>Well, we'll just have to keep listening then.

>"So what are you two doing out here?" the kappa asks.
>"Like my... acquaintance said, we're looking for the other vampire." Reisen replies. "We have reason to suspect one of her servants fled in this direction after being defeated. That's why my companion asked you about new buildings or structures in this part of Gensokyo. We believe this other vampire is a new arrival to this region."
>The kappa makes a sound like one thinking. "Kyrie might have seen something, I'll ask her. Give me a minute."
>"Sure." Reisen nods.
>The door shuts again, more casually.

[Hanzo K.]

>Well, this might not have been a waste after all. We'll make sure to listen closer.

[Oldmansour]

>Well, this might not have been a waste after all. We'll make sure to listen closer.

>Seems to actually be getting somewhere, now.
>About a minute or so later, another woman walks out of the cabin door. This one is much taller than the kappa, with very long blonde hair, flowing straight down her back, clad in a silvery-blue gown. The trim of her gown falls over her feet. She wears a pair of earrings, a silver moon dangling from her left ear, a yellow sun on from her right. She doesn't seem to walk as much as float. She compliments her look with dusky blue wristbands and an orange choker.
>"It is rare, indeed, that a rabbit of the moon and a daughter of the night seek out Kyrie." she intones to Reisen, her voice melodic, soothing. Said rabbit, you note, seems rather... taken aback, by the woman in front of her. "There is no need to conceal yourself from me, O Scarlet one." she says aloud, tilting her head back slightly. "Kyrie is no enemy of thee or thy kin."

[Hanzo K.]

>Chuckle while still in Bat form, and then reveal ourselves in our normal state.
>"Quite skilled, aren't you?"
>Does she feel at all different from anything else we've previously encountered?

[Oldmansour]

>Chuckle while still in Bat form, and then reveal ourselves in our normal state.
>"Quite skilled, aren't you?"
>Does she feel at all different from anything else we've previously encountered?

>Never one to refuse an invitation such as that, you detach yourself from the cabin roof and fly over to stand beside Reisen, changing back to human guise as you do so.
>The woman is very attractive, beautiful, you would say. There is an otherworldly-ness about here, like she might vanish with each breath of wind. Her eyes are the same shade of blue as the river your stand next to, but then she blinks, are they are a different shade, blue as dawn. Her orange choker has a Mobius strip stitched into the front of it, and she wears an hourglass pendant. A very odd hourglass. It doesn't seem to be glass, or metal, but rather some kind of thread woven together to create the shape. There is a white ring on her hand, which also appears to be some kind of thread, but only upon close examination. A layman would take it for a white circle of some kind of gem.
>And she feels powerful. Very powerful.
>"Merely deduction. I glean this rabbit to be now an ally true, and she promised thee aid. And thee, I surmised, would not leave an ally thou deemst useful, ere learned what thou came to learn."

[Hanzo K.]

>Smirk a bit. "Quick on the draw as well, admirable ability that. Too few have such a talent these days sadly."
>"At any rate, I came this direction in pursuit of someone tied to the disappearance of my head maid. WHen I saw this cabin, I considered one of two possibilities, that it was merely a facade for the underground complex of who I seek, or an average house from which information could be gleaned. You see, the culprit behind this fuss is someone called the 'Cobalt Countess', another Vampire similar to myself who seems to have recently arrived in Gensokyo. Now, it would have been excusable if she had left well enough alone and not meddled in my affairs. But as things stand now, I have to teach her a lesson in respect. After all, a Devil is superior to a Countess."

[Oldmansour]

>Smirk a bit. "Quick on the draw as well, admirable ability that. Too few have such a talent these days sadly."
>"At any rate, I came this direction in pursuit of someone tied to the disappearance of my head maid. WHen I saw this cabin, I considered one of two possibilities, that it was merely a facade for the underground complex of who I seek, or an average house from which information could be gleaned. You see, the culprit behind this fuss is someone called the 'Cobalt Countess', another Vampire similar to myself who seems to have recently arrived in Gensokyo. Now, it would have been excusable if she had left well enough alone and not meddled in my affairs. But as things stand now, I have to teach her a lesson in respect. After all, a Devil is superior to a Countess."

>"Insight is oft squandered upon the young. And yet, mayhap, perhaps not as rare as thou may think."
>Kyrie follows your explanation easily, up until you mention the title of your enemy. "That shouldn't be." she says quietly. "Her time was not for years to come." The odd youkai closes her eyes.
>The kappa reappears in the doorframe. "Ah, she's doing her thing." she remarks as Kyrie's hair flutters slightly in a breeze that is not there. The kappa turns her head to regard Reisen. "Might take a minute."
>"What's she doing?" Reisen asks her, and the kappa replies with a shrug.
>After several seconds, Kyrie's eyes open again, but they're a different color altogether; a dark grey. "I am permitted to aid thee in thy quest. The Countess's tapestry hath been tugged upon by an unseen hand. It must be set right, ere Genskoyo succumbs to the throes of Hatred, or the grasp of Avarice."
>"Yet ere I speak, must I first hear certain words from thy mouth, Remilia Scarlet. Is it thy intent to slay the Countess whom thou hath judged as enemy?"

[Hanzo K.]

>Smirk. "Why end her, when I can savor the pain of her wounded ego? That is, unless there happens to be someone else pulling the strings. Then I might even have a equal to rival Hakurei's might. Besides, it's no fun to kill off the strong, leaving only the weak. Because then things get tedious, and that's been the bane of many a long-lived being. Besides, it's been ages since I've encountered a powerful vampire who isn't my younger sister."
>Chuckle a little. "I might maim a bit, but nothing too grave that can't be healed with a period of rest at least. If she's at least as strong as I am, then she should easily be able to recover from it after a few days if it comes to it."
>So, it seems she too can gaze at the tapestries of fate as we do. This night certainly has been a fun one.

[Oldmansour]

>Smirk. "Why end her, when I can savor the pain of her wounded ego? That is, unless there happens to be someone else pulling the strings. Then I might even have a equal to rival Hakurei's might. Besides, it's no fun to kill off the strong, leaving only the weak. Because then things get tedious, and that's been the bane of many a long-lived being. Besides, it's been ages since I've encountered a powerful vampire who isn't my younger sister."
>Chuckle a little. "I might maim a bit, but nothing too grave that can't be healed with a period of rest at least. If she's at least as strong as I am, then she should easily be able to recover from it after a few days if it comes to it."
>So, it seems she too can gaze at the tapestries of fate as we do. This night certainly has been a fun one.

>"Very well, then."
>Reisen, however, is curious. "Why ask her that?"
>"Many threads intersect with the tapestry of the Countesses' life tonight, but only this one's thread potentially bore lethal malice with her. It is imperative that no lives be ended on this night."
>"Which brings me to thee, young rabbit." Kyrie says in that odd voice of hers, turning her eyes upon Reisen. They shift color again, as well, changing to a red that nearly mirrors Reisen's own. "From you, I require truth. You said you would aid this vampire, and this is true. But is that the only reason you journey to the Keep of Cobalt?"
>She asks the question like she already knows the answer, but her tone seems to go over Reisen's head. The lunar rabbit considers it, then turns her head and eyes slightly downward. "No. It isn't."
>"For your own reasons?"
>"For..." Reisen trails off, hesitant to say what's on her mind.

[Hanzo K.]

>Chuckle a bit. "Someone she knew was turned by the countess. While the youngling has potential, it's going to waste under her."
>Sigh. "All the countess does is let her progeny run free without a care in the world. It's completely unbecoming for a member of the Vampire race, she should conduct things with more tact and class."

[Oldmansour]

>Chuckle a bit. "Someone she knew was turned by the countess. While the youngling has potential, it's going to waste under her."
>Sigh. "All the countess does is let her progeny run free without a care in the world. It's completely unbecoming for a member of the Vampire race, she should conduct things with more tact and class."

>Kyrie smiles a mysterious smile at you. "So certain of that, are you?"

[Hanzo K.]

>Mirror the smile as best we can. "Well, we'll just see how things go from there. Though the youngling's potential is rather interesting, she could possibly even become a Vampire that surpasses even myself after all."

[Oldmansour]

>Mirror the smile as best we can. "Well, we'll just see how things go from there. Though the youngling's potential is rather interesting, she could possibly even become a Vampire that surpasses even myself after all."

>You've never been the best at 'mysterious'. 'Arrogant' is more your forte. Still, you do your best at it.
>The youkai with the strange eyes chuckles once, a sound not quite like any other chuckle. "We shall see, indeed."
>"Is she right, though, young rabbit?" Kyrie asks Reisen. "Do you seek only to resolve the issue of this fledgling vempire, and prevent the creation of more?"
>Reisen does not answer for several seconds. She closes her eyes when she says, "... no." somewhat quietly. Kyrie's smile takes on a gentler shade, but she says nothing, so Reisen continues, "You obviously know about the other groups involved in this as well. One of those individuals can be... reckless, at times. She can handle herself better than a lot of people I've known, but the power of a vampire isn't something that should be underestimated. Especially if this Cobalt vampire is more... bloodthirsty than Remilia here."
>The rabbit falls silent again, but Kyrie's expression does not change. She seems to be expecting something from Reisen.
>"You seek only to fight by her if you feel the need?" Kyrie asks at last.
>Reisen shakes her head slowly. "I seek...." She pauses again, and twists her head slightly to look at you out of the corner of her eye.
>"I understand." Kyrie speaks into the silence, and then addresses you. "The truth is what I must hear from this rabbit, but for her to speak, we must ask for your silence on the matter she will speak of, and indeed, has already spoken of."

[Hanzo K.]

>Smirk a bit. "I look at fates rather often myself, and I wouldn't have gotten this far in life as a Vampire without being able to keep a few secrets."

[Oldmansour]

>Smirk a bit. "I look at fates rather often myself, and I wouldn't have gotten this far in life as a Vampire without being able to keep a few secrets."

>"I understand that. Nevertheless, I must ask you to say it directly, that you will not reveal what Reisen says here to the ears of another." The youkai tilts her head slightly. "It sounds a touch exacting, I know, but, words have power, as I believe you understand."

[Hanzo K.]

>Chuckle a bit, then sigh amusedly. "Very well then, I shall not reveal it."

[Oldmansour]

>Chuckle a bit, then sigh amusedly. "Very well then, I shall not reveal it."

>Kyrie nods. "I thank you." She titles her head back slightly. "And you, Runa?" she asks the kappa behind her.
>The blue haired woman clenches her teeth with a *che* sound. "As if anyone would ever ask me. But yeah, sure. I promise."
>"I thank you." And then Kyrie returns her red eyes to Reisen. "What do you seek?"
>And with her eyes lowered, with a quiet voice, Reisen answers, "To protect her."
>The youkai blinks again, her eyes returning to that river-blue shade. "I thank thee, child of the moon. And now, daughter of the night," she starts, clearly addressing you,  "ask of Kyrie what thou would know this night of thy foe."

[Hanzo K.]

>Smirk a bit. "The location, of course. As for how strong they are, it might not be a bad idea, but I prefer firsthand experience on that matter."
>Seems she's realized Rei's feelings for her, and is starting to reciprocate~ We'll have to look into the future for them sometime, to see if it's in the cards then.
>Fistpalm. "And perhaps you could clarify a bit on how it was too early for her to arrive in Gensokyo. What brought her here, I can find out personally, but that little remark struck me as odd."

[Oldmansour]

>Smirk a bit. "The location, of course. As for how strong they are, it might not be a bad idea, but I prefer firsthand experience on that matter."
>Seems she's realized Rei's feelings for her, and is starting to reciprocate~ We'll have to look into the future for them sometime, to see if it's in the cards then.
>Fistpalm. "And perhaps you could clarify a bit on how it was too early for her to arrive in Gensokyo. What brought her here, I can find out personally, but that little remark struck me as odd."

>"The first I may relay to thee, the second is less definite. The nature of their current condition hath rendered their powers in a state of flux. There are those among their number who experience a weakening, and certain others that are increased in their threat."
>You make a note to probe into Reisen and Rei's romantic futures.
>"That thread is not mine to reveal at this time. Though this much I can clarify: tis not her arrival 'twas untimely, but her reemergence."
>"You mean this Countess was here before?" Reisen asks her.
>"To be more precise, young rabbit, she and her companions have yet to truly depart from this world. Yet tis not time for their awakening. An unseen hand tugged upon that thread of their lives, and many hands will it take to stitch their tapestry aright."

[Hanzo K.]

>Nod. "Such as Envy and Gluttony being weaker than they should have been. And Sloth actually providing a decent challenge, which goes counter to the very nature of that Sin."
>"But to summarize, they were asleep, sealed away. And something released them before the seal faded naturally, correct?"

[Oldmansour]

>Nod. "Such as Envy and Gluttony being weaker than they should have been. And Sloth actually providing a decent challenge, which goes counter to the very nature of that Sin."
>"But to summarize, they were asleep, sealed away. And something released them before the seal faded naturally, correct?"

>Kyrie nods as you recount your encounters with the Sins. "It is as you say."
>"Thou are correct. Twas some years yet afore the walls of their cells were to dissolve, yet one, I know not who, caused this to come about prematurely."
>"And when you say 'set things right', does that mean the right thing for us to do would be to seal them again?" Reisen asks her.
>The kappa called Runa nods. "Sounds good to me. One less vamp and her goons running around is fine in my books."
>Kyrie, however, does not acknowledge the kappa's sentiment. She merely says, "Your actions are yours to choose, Reisen Udongein. As are yours, Remilia Scarlet."

[Hanzo K.]

>Nod. "It seems the most prudent thing would be to punish the one who freed them. I have a hunch as to who as well, this mysterious being the Sins refer to as 'The Keeper'. Initially, I assumed that the Countess and the Keeper were one and the same. But in light of new information, that may not be the case at all."

[Oldmansour]

>Nod. "It seems the most prudent thing would be to punish the one who freed them. I have a hunch as to who as well, this mysterious being the Sins refer to as 'The Keeper'. Initially, I assumed that the Countess and the Keeper were one and the same. But in light of new information, that may not be the case at all."

>"Enlightenment shall ye receive, within the walls of the Cobalt Keep. If ye be willing to ask the questions."

[Hanzo K.]

>Smirk. "I suspected as such. So, where must I look to find it?"

[Oldmansour]

>Smirk. "I suspected as such. So, where must I look to find it?"

>The youkai with the shifting eyes points behind you, down the river. "Follow this water downstream from here. In the basin of the falls, she awaits her time."

[Hanzo K.]

>Chuckle a bit. "Well, Reisen and I should be off then. Can't have Hakurei beating us to the punch after all. I do apologize for having possibly woken you though, sleep is rather important after all."
>Look to Reisen with a slight, playful smirk. "So, let's get this all wrapped up then, shall we? I daresay you're eager to see Rei again, no?"
>Return our gaze to Kyrie, and curtsey slightly. Then regard her with a somewhat mysterious smile. "Perhaps we'll meet again sometime, it isn't often one meets another who also gazes at the threads of fate after all. Indeed, a rare ability we both have."
>We should remember to send an invitation or two here next time we have a party, it would be nice to have another with a similar ability to converse with sometime. So let's memorize this location so we can relate it to Sakuya after all this, so she can have the invitation delivered.
>"Now, until next we meet." Let's take Reisen and follow the river as Kyrie said.

[Oldmansour]

>Chuckle a bit. "Well, Reisen and I should be off then. Can't have Hakurei beating us to the punch after all. I do apologize for having possibly woken you though, sleep is rather important after all."

>The disgruntled kappa merely grunts.

>Look to Reisen with a slight, playful smirk. "So, let's get this all wrapped up then, shall we? I daresay you're eager to see Rei again, no?"

>Reisen looks at you in slight confusion. "What makes you say that?"

>Return our gaze to Kyrie, and curtsey slightly. Then regard her with a somewhat mysterious smile. "Perhaps we'll meet again sometime, it isn't often one meets another who also gazes at the threads of fate after all. Indeed, a rare ability we both have."
>We should remember to send an invitation or two here next time we have a party, it would be nice to have another with a similar ability to converse with sometime. So let's memorize this location so we can relate it to Sakuya after all this, so she can have the invitation delivered.
>"Now, until next we meet." Let's take Reisen and follow the river as Kyrie said.

>"Rarity is as it should be. 'Tis a burden every bit as much as a blessing." She half closes her eyes for a moment. "I do believe, yes, that the thread of your life and mine shall cross again."
>You commit Runa's cabin's location to memory.
>"Thanks for the help." Reisen adds, still seeming a touch unsettled by the conversation with Kyrie. Runa tosses her a brief salute as she takes to the air after you. Together, under the odd youkai's watchful eye, the pair of you fly south, downriver.

>The time is now 12:33 AM.

>"Is it just me, or was that youkai a bit strange even for youkai?" Reisen asks as you travel. "I've never heard anyone else talk like she did."

[Hanzo K.]

>Chuckle a bit. "Couldn't you tell? She's an Oracle, one whose very reason for living is to watch the threads of fate. I couldn't quite make sense of her outfit until just recently, when I caught on to her ability. And then everything snapped into place once I made sense of that. As much as I dislike admitting that someone could be better than me at something, she is most likely better at gazing into the future than I."
>Smirk. "But I make do with being able to nudge things in better directions. All an Oracle can do is see the threads, and the tapestry they weave. I can reweave that tapestry to a point, altering things to a more favorable appearance. Perhaps I should reweave their fates later on to fix that little snag she mentioned. After we've dealt with whoever meddled with it though. I suspect they might also have a similar ability, which will be a rather difficult matter to deal with. It may become morning by the time all this is resolved, as it's 12:33 AM now. Less than 6 hours until dawn comes."
>So let's book it!

[Oldmansour]

>Chuckle a bit. "Couldn't you tell? She's an Oracle, one whose very reason for living is to watch the threads of fate. I couldn't quite make sense of her outfit until just recently, when I caught on to her ability. And then everything snapped into place once I made sense of that. As much as I dislike admitting that someone could be better than me at something, she is most likely better at gazing into the future than I."
>Smirk. "But I make do with being able to nudge things in better directions. All an Oracle can do is see the threads, and the tapestry they weave. I can reweave that tapestry to a point, altering things to a more favorable appearance. Perhaps I should reweave their fates later on to fix that little snag she mentioned. After we've dealt with whoever meddled with it though. I suspect they might also have a similar ability, which will be a rather difficult matter to deal with. It may become morning by the time all this is resolved, as it's 12:33 AM now. Less than 6 hours until dawn comes."
>So let's book it!

>"I've never actually dealt with a genuine oracle before." Reisen answers. "Such things were considered a bit taboo on the moon. Which was probably due in part to their popularity on Earth."
>"The one thing that I wonder is, she mentioned 'Avarice and Hatred' as special threats. Which has to mean Greed and Wrath of the Sins. Did she mean that those two were more powerful than the Countess?" she wonders aloud as you accelerate your pace, Reisen matching suit. "No, probably just more dangerous, would be my guess.
>Flying this close to running water is a cause of some discomfort, but you keep this to yourself. No need to reveal that particular weakness of your to Reisen if she doesn't know herself. You shouldn't have to cross it, though, you tell yourself, as the being you're seeking is a vampire herself. She'd never set herself up in a place that courted that particular vampiric weakness.
>The terrain turns a bit rocky after about fifteen minutes or so, and a copse of evergreen trees comes into view across the river, their needles and nettles still attached in spite of the oncoming winter. Five minutes later, though, it is the terrain ahead of you that becomes a more pressing matter. The river forks. It branches due south, and to the southeast.

>The time is now 12:54 AM.

[Hanzo K.]

>"Tch....Which one leads to the Waterfall Basin..."
>We should be able to break off a bat or two to investigate as scouts, yes?
>"As for Greed and Wrath, I suspect Wrath will just be pure power, like Flan when she gets in one of her tempers. Simple enough to redirect. Greed will likely try to use any means necessary to con us into something. And I suspect we should be especially careful should it attempt to possess Reimu, as it might promise her vast wealth in exchange for playing host to it."
>Smirk. "However....Even Greed can fall prey to it's own machinations when making a Deal with a Devil."