[Day: 3] [Time: Dusk] [Weather: Cold / Mostly clear]
> It's not very clear if there's anyone else around, so just make your way up to the treehouse.
> "You three. I've heard word of a human woman being spotted around here. Age could be anywhere between 20 to 40 human years, so you know, she might've actually looked like an adult. Any clue where she is?"
>Don't waste time with idle banter. Keep the conversation on track with what info you need so you can get moving the moment you need to.
[6] "A woman, huh?"
The three fairies exchange nervous glances at each other.
"Sunny? Should we tell this guy? We don't even know who he is..."
"It's okay, Star. He doesn't look like he's gonna harm her. If anything, he looks like he's trying to help!"
"Alright, then. Luna! Do that thing you do to muffle out our voices!"
Sunny and Star turn towards you while Luna stands behind them, facing towards the shrine.
"I think she ran off towards the west. Reimu smacked her
really hard. Probably broke her arm or something."
"And she was wearing really weird clothes, too. Whatever you do, don't bring her back here. I don't wanna see her get sealed up like the guy she was looking for."
That last bit of detail confirms that they're referring to Haruko's mother. There are two places towards the west she would likely be hiding in, though the fact she has a broken arm narrows it down to just one:
>"Haruko, don't worry. They say four weeks ago, but that dream information was yesterday. She is out there, in hiding. If I had to guess, assuming the worst, Reimu probably saw her and attacked her, but she rolled a 5 or 6 ran off before things got too bad. She could be injured, but the important thing is she's alive. Take assurance in that, and be strong."
>"Unfortunately, not knowing what she looks like will be very...detrimental to finding her." Turn to the other two. "Have either of you seen her and know or remember what she looks like? I won't want to dismiss a random passersby as not her, since sometimes the best place to hide is in plain sight."
>"Maybe we could go back to the Moriya shrine? They seem to know enough about you, Haru. Maybe they can provide a bit of further assistance."
>Idly check money. If the Moriyas can do something, that may warrant a donation.
[5] BONUS: Your next roll gets 1 added to it.
"Haruko [...] strong."
"Yeah, you're right. We need to find her before it's... too late."
"Unfortunately [...] sight."
"As I've said before, we assumed she was her mother based solely on her looks. Oh, and they said she wasn't dressed like a Gensokyoan human. I guess that confirms what you're hoping for, right?"
"Maybe [...] assistance."
Akyuu suddenly exclaims:
"Ahh, Keine-san! Now that you remind me of it, a bit more than a week ago a group of boys told me they saw an Outsider around the village, with a severely injured arm!"
Haruko shudders at that, but manages to keep herself together after realizing that she's at least alive.
You don't have any money, though the residents of the Moriya Shrine don't look like they'd care too much about your lack of reciprocation.
>There was something about someone's mom in hiding, right? Yeah, I could start searching and hope blind luck strikes.
>Grab some dinner to go along the way, too.
[1](+1) You catch the last bits of the conversation, enough to realize that whoever you're searching for is among the village. It's just hours before the sky completely turns dark. Instead of searching the village, you just stand there and look at the last sliver of orange light disappearing off the western horizon.
>"D-Deal!" Give Kappa a thumbs-up from the floor.
>Goodness, that smarts. Um... Sanae said a sofa got smashed here, right? See if I can picture what it originally looked like, and then see if that puts it back together nearby.
>If that works, it's time for an upgrade! Casually climb onto the resurrected sofa, and visualize an automated massage roller thingy within the cushion. That back pain will be gone in no time~
[5] BONUS: Your next roll gets 1 added to it.
The splinters and shreds spontaneously rearrange themselves to form a leather sofa. You hop on and crank a lever coming out the side, which actuates a mechanical massager. Sanae looks in your direction with her mouth gaping wide open:
"Wh- That's
impossible! How did you do that?! That totally goes against the second law of thermodynamics*!"
Kappa redirects her attention towards a speck of light in the east, to which she reacts with urgency:
"GET TO THE VILLAGE! WE HAVE TO WARN THEM!"
*As if real-world physics laws mattered anymore...> Welp, there's no turning back now. This is some shit, and you have stumbled into ground zero.
"That's... awful. Wow. I'm sure there's some context, but I just can't fathom why anyone would want to just up and kill some little girl like that. I take it that, between the two of these shrines, this is the good one?"
> Upon closer inspection... wow, that is a LOT of blood. What the f#ck happened here?
> Explain (or demonstrate) to Sanae that these powers are good for more than just radar. If there's any heavy lifting to do around the shrine, offer to handle some of that burden.
> query@Sanae: how her two friends are floating; how you can help; what the strange mountain light is (you followed it here).
recv~Cheez8 > "D-Deal!" Give Kappa a thumbs-up from the floor.
> Return thumbs up. "Hey, sprains suck. Just rest for a bit and I'll take care of the crap goin' on here. Oh, actually - maybe you could orient yourself towards that light on the mountain and keep a lookout on that?"
> query@Cheez8: if their Blink ability is magnetically-powered, like yours.
[5] BONUS: Your next roll gets 1 added to it.
"That's [...] one?"
"I guess you can put it that way. However, the residents of Gensokyo are powerless when it comes to ignoring the Hakurei Shrine's influence. After all, it's the reason this place continues to exist in isolation from the rest of the world outside. As for why the shrine maiden wants the girl dead, it's a rather complicated story. What really matters is that her family has crossed paths not meant to be crossed, which has placed them near death ever since. I can tell you more if you'd like, though I fear that it would undermine the safety of your own life as a result of knowing too much about this whole situation. Most of those who sided with the girl and her family were killed, and only a select few know the gritty details."
Sanae is still looking at Cheez8 in utter surprise when you walk up to her.
In response to "how her two friends are floating":
"They're goddesses. Floating is the probably the least impressive of their abilities."
In response to "how you can help":
"Well, everyone seems to be looking for the girl's mother. She's in just as much danger, and the worst part is that we don't know where she's hiding."
In response to "strange mountain light":
"Oh, that light over there? That's the Hakurei Shrine."
She suddenly gets tense, as if something terrible is happening.
"Wait... she better not be performing another prayer to... GET TO THE VILLAGE! WE HAVE TO WARN THEM!"
The wind priestess runs into the shrine and comes back with several spellcards in her hand.
"I'll bring these, just in case. I'm not getting caught off-guard this time!"
>"I...think I know why. Everything's getting industrialized. Buildings being constructed that tower over cities." Remember how it looked, and frown slightly. "It makes me a little melancholy to know that not everyone can enjoy this kind of view, and that even fewer will be able to eventually." Look ahead into the sun again. "But yet at the same time, it makes me appreciate these sights even more. And here in Gensokyo, I feel these scenes are painted out daily."
[4] "Yep, that's right! Is the place you're from like that? I wonder what it's like in the outside, beyond the Barrier..."
The two of you cruise through the starry sky for a while before Marisa spots a patch of light below.
"Hold on tight!"
>"Oh hello there, I'm back from the Hakurei Shrine."
>"She doesn't seem to like that an, Outsider that came here."
>Another ?1000 donation
>Head down the Mountain
[1] It's hard to see in the darkness. You slip, fall down the mountain, and crash head-first into a thick tree trunk.
You are dead.Uh, well, I didn't say I was in it for the money!
>Learn how to craft some cheapo charms to sell.
[4] You manage to sell them to a group of teenagers for ?500 apiece.
Money +?2500 (total ?3800)
