Author Topic: Magical Lotus - Mahou Shoujou Byakuren - Episode 4 (Read 46190 times)

Oldmansour · « **Reply #390 on:** April 21, 2015, 10:09:23 PM »

Quote from: DracoOmega on April 21, 2015, 07:10:07 PM

>Dissipating the power here may be a bit like bailing out a still-leaky boat, but that's probably still worth doing
>Let's try to clean up what has accumulated here, then pull our awareness fully back to the normal world and take a closer look at Patchy's aura

>Manifesting your scepter, you point it at the gathered mist and unleash a wave of power, which in this place emerges as a prismatic sheet of light. This light washes the blue mist away effortlessly, and you wipe out every trace of it that you can see. Straightaway, though, the blue vapors start to waft down towards the Oubliette once more.
>With the mess at least temporarily cleaned up, you reel your mind back in, your head acquiring a slight touch of dizziness this time, one that passes after only a few seconds. Perhaps sending your mind back and forth between one plane of reality and another in rapid succession is not something you should do too often.

>Rin's voice reaches you as you return, I felt you use your power, mistress. Everything okay?

DracoOmega · « **Reply #391 on:** April 21, 2015, 10:14:09 PM »

>I'm fine. But the power which was gathering around the walls of the prison appeared to be slowly weakening them, so I swept what was accumulated away for the moment. It's only a temporary measure, since more is streaming back already, but I hoped it might at least delay any damage to the prison while I figure out what to do about the source of it.
>Let's reach out and take a closer look at Patchouli again now

Oldmansour · « **Reply #392 on:** April 22, 2015, 12:40:12 AM »

Quote from: DracoOmega on April 21, 2015, 10:14:09 PM

>I'm fine. But the power which was gathering around the walls of the prison appeared to be slowly weakening them, so I swept what was accumulated away for the moment. It's only a temporary measure, since more is streaming back already, but I hoped it might at least delay any damage to the prison while I figure out what to do about the source of it.
>Let's reach out and take a closer look at Patchouli again now

>Any better idea what it is?
>Reaching now to the level below you, you scan Patchouli's apartment for her aura. You can sense the water magic around her, her elemental alignment. And the power leaking from her that is ever so slowly eroding the walls of the Oubliette. Apart from that, she feels no different than a regular youkai.
>The really peculiar thing you sense, though, is a second trail of energy, much the same as the one Patchy is sending out. This one seems to be coming from Sanae, and leads not towards the Oubliette, but somewhere in the physical world.

DracoOmega · « **Reply #393 on:** April 22, 2015, 12:42:41 AM »

>Not yet, I am afraid.
>Can we figure out where that one is going?

Oldmansour · « **Reply #394 on:** April 22, 2015, 01:07:47 AM »

Quote from: DracoOmega on April 22, 2015, 12:42:41 AM

>Not yet, I am afraid.
>Can we figure out where that one is going?

>It seems to be heading in a southwesterly direction.

DracoOmega · « **Reply #395 on:** April 22, 2015, 01:13:30 AM »

>Can we follow it out, or does it lead somewhere too far away to get any useful sense of?
>And we can still sense nothing else odd about Patchouli aside from this power not her own that is streaming from her? No obvious cause, or source besides herself, or anything like that?
>Any chance we can place that niggling sense of familiarity we felt regarding it?

Oldmansour · « **Reply #396 on:** April 22, 2015, 01:45:16 AM »

Quote from: DracoOmega on April 22, 2015, 01:13:30 AM

>Can we follow it out, or does it lead somewhere too far away to get any useful sense of?
>And we can still sense nothing else odd about Patchouli aside from this power not her own that is streaming from her? No obvious cause, or source besides herself, or anything like that?
>Any chance we can place that niggling sense of familiarity we felt regarding it?

>It becomes too faint to trace once it travels a few miles beyond the Moonside apartments.
>Even your enhanced senses offer you no insight as to where that power is coming from. Or rather, how it could be coming from Patchy, since it's quite different then her own magical aura.
>Although.... Upon closer scrutiny, something is... off about her. There is a sense of... incompleteness about her. Like there's something missing from her.
>As to what about that power feels familiar, it teases the edge of your mind, but details escape you.

DracoOmega · « **Reply #397 on:** April 22, 2015, 01:50:41 AM »

>Something missing? Do we have any idea at all what this might be?
>Or how we could maybe figure it out?
>Do we think examining her at closer range would help at all here?

Oldmansour · « **Reply #398 on:** April 22, 2015, 02:31:53 AM »

Quote from: DracoOmega on April 22, 2015, 01:50:41 AM

>Something missing? Do we have any idea at all what this might be?
>Or how we could maybe figure it out?
>Do we think examining her at closer range would help at all here?

>You do not know. But the damnedest thing of it is, there's a part of you that feels you should know. It's that familiar feeling, that sense of.... something, that eludes you.
>It's certainly possible. Proximity has helped your magical scanners in the past, it could very well help you here.

DracoOmega · « **Reply #399 on:** April 22, 2015, 02:40:01 AM »

>I fear I'm only finding more mysteries. The power feels distinctly unlike either Patchouli's magic or Louise's, yet it is from Patchouli which it stems. And something similar is flowing from Sanae, yet heading miles away from here - I know not where. And even beyond this, there is something else about Patchouli which is... off, yet I cannot put my finger on it. This power feels... maddeningly familiar somehow, yet I cannot place it.

>Does it feel like something we felt recently, or something long ago?
>Something that was hostile/unsettling/ominous or friendly/comfortable?

Oldmansour · « **Reply #400 on:** April 23, 2015, 01:37:44 AM »

Quote from: DracoOmega on April 22, 2015, 02:40:01 AM

>I fear I'm only finding more mysteries. The power feels distinctly unlike either Patchouli's magic or Louise's, yet it is from Patchouli which it stems. And something similar is flowing from Sanae, yet heading miles away from here - I know not where. And even beyond this, there is something else about Patchouli which is... off, yet I cannot put my finger on it. This power feels... maddeningly familiar somehow, yet I cannot place it.

>Does it feel like something we felt recently, or something long ago?
>Something that was hostile/unsettling/ominous or friendly/comfortable?

>From... Sanae? How's that possible. You hear Rin groans. Ain't nothin' simple.

>Perhaps.... Both?
>Again, you almost want to say both.

>Byakuren Hijiri Corruption Score: 1%

DracoOmega · « **Reply #401 on:** April 23, 2015, 02:08:47 AM »

>Does any of it bring to mind any of the sensations we experienced when we first attained our ring, and the inner struggle we waged within our own soul?
>Is it reminiscent of our own power in any way we can tell?

Oldmansour · « **Reply #402 on:** April 23, 2015, 03:17:31 AM »

Quote from: DracoOmega on April 23, 2015, 02:08:47 AM

>Does any of it bring to mind any of the sensations we experienced when we first attained our ring, and the inner struggle we waged within our own soul?
>Is it reminiscent of our own power in any way we can tell?

>It.... might?
>Not so far as you can tell.

>Byakuren Hijiri Corruption Score: 3%

DracoOmega · « **Reply #403 on:** April 23, 2015, 03:21:47 AM »

>Reach out to the Purpose: Purpose, can you sense the power flowing from the two woman downstairs? One of which is drifting towards towards the prison in which we have captured the Champion of Water?

Oldmansour · « **Reply #404 on:** April 23, 2015, 04:11:56 AM »

Quote from: DracoOmega on April 23, 2015, 03:21:47 AM

>Reach out to the Purpose: Purpose, can you sense the power flowing from the two woman downstairs? One of which is drifting towards towards the prison in which we have captured the Champion of Water?

>I cannot. My attention is focused upon maintaining the barrier; there is an assault in progress.

>Byakuren Hijiri Corruption Score: 4%

DracoOmega · « **Reply #405 on:** April 23, 2015, 04:14:06 AM »

>An assault in progress? Where? Can I assist in any way?

Oldmansour · « **Reply #406 on:** April 23, 2015, 04:28:36 AM »

Quote from: DracoOmega on April 23, 2015, 04:14:06 AM

>An assault in progress? Where? Can I assist in any way?

>Unnecessary. They will fail.

DracoOmega · « **Reply #407 on:** April 23, 2015, 04:29:23 AM »

>You are certain?

Oldmansour · « **Reply #408 on:** April 23, 2015, 04:49:10 AM »

Quote from: DracoOmega on April 23, 2015, 04:29:23 AM

>You are certain?

>Yes.

>Byakuren Hijiri Corruption Score: 2%

DracoOmega · « **Reply #409 on:** April 23, 2015, 05:00:01 AM »

>Could we... feel some glimmer of that assault on the barrier ourselves, over the last few minutes, by any chance? Reflecting on things?
>Has there been any change in the auras downstairs?

Oldmansour · « **Reply #410 on:** April 23, 2015, 05:04:36 AM »

Quote from: DracoOmega on April 23, 2015, 05:00:01 AM

>Could we... feel some glimmer of that assault on the barrier ourselves, over the last few minutes, by any chance? Reflecting on things?
>Has there been any change in the auras downstairs?

>You could not. You're not even sure you'd know what to look for to find the barrier between your world and Makai.
>Both remain unchanged.

DracoOmega · « **Reply #411 on:** April 23, 2015, 05:07:50 AM »

>Earlier we thought that this familiar sense might bring to mind our experiences within our own soul. Well, does it? Think harder on each individual event that transpired there and see if anything matches up, or if we ultimately think we're barking up the wrong tree yet again.

Oldmansour · « **Reply #412 on:** April 23, 2015, 10:31:24 AM »

Quote from: DracoOmega on April 23, 2015, 05:07:50 AM

>Earlier we thought that this familiar sense might bring to mind our experiences within our own soul. Well, does it? Think harder on each individual event that transpired there and see if anything matches up, or if we ultimately think we're barking up the wrong tree yet again.

>Leaving the Purpose of the Barrier to its own task, you set your mind to your memories, harkening back to that day where that bizarre doll gave you the ring on your finger. You brace yourself against the worst of those memories, the sense of isolation you felt, the fear at the time for the safety of Rin, Lily and Kyouko, the voices in the dark taunting you, teasing you, beckoning you to darker places, the cold that seemed to penetrate your flesh to chill down to your soul. Though it all, there doesn't appear to be any ONE thing that stands out about the others as being similar to what you feel from Patchouli, but there is a distinct sense that something about that experience is something you've felt before then. Something about those voices are like something you've been told, voices of people you knew. Did someone say the same things to Patchy? You don't know. Or is it that you just can't remember? It feels as though you're trying to remember something from your earliest years. You know it's there, or at least you're rather sure, and growing more sure all the time. But reaching it is another matter.

>Byakuren Hijiri Corruption Score: 15
>The cold in your memory is mirrored by the chill you feel in your shoulders and limbs.

DracoOmega · « **Reply #413 on:** April 23, 2015, 10:53:31 AM »

>If we are growing sure, then try to focus on that certainty. Center our thoughts and reach out for that memory.
>And if the cold of what we experienced chills us, remember well what turned it back that day we gained our ring. Remember that we are not alone. Remember the love that dwells within our heart, for friends and family and the world. And for Rin. Remember that the woman we love is here with us right now. Even in the darkest places, we will never be alone.

Oldmansour · « **Reply #414 on:** April 26, 2015, 02:42:29 AM »

Quote from: DracoOmega on April 23, 2015, 10:53:31 AM

>If we are growing sure, then try to focus on that certainty. Center our thoughts and reach out for that memory.
>And if the cold of what we experienced chills us, remember well what turned it back that day we gained our ring. Remember that we are not alone. Remember the love that dwells within our heart, for friends and family and the world. And for Rin. Remember that the woman we love is here with us right now. Even in the darkest places, we will never be alone.

>A peculiar sensation crawls through your mind as you try to reach back into the past, while at the same time keeping images of Rin in your mind. It is as though the pleasant memories, the positive emotions you hold to banishes the old memories from reach. The chill also softens in your extremities as you recall just how Rin and you kept each other warm through the cold winter night.

>Byakuren Hijiri Corruption Score: 14.

DracoOmega · « **Reply #415 on:** April 26, 2015, 02:48:09 AM »

>That... that can't be entirely natural, can it?

Oldmansour · « **Reply #416 on:** April 26, 2015, 03:09:31 AM »

Quote from: DracoOmega on April 26, 2015, 02:48:09 AM

>That... that can't be entirely natural, can it?

>It doesn't feel artificial. Then again, a whole lot of things you've done and had done to you over the past week would hardly be considered natural.

DracoOmega · « **Reply #417 on:** April 26, 2015, 03:12:23 AM »

>Well, let's not get sidetracked. Take comfort that we have a warm place to return to, but try to focus on reaching whatever it was that we were on the cusp of recalling

Oldmansour · « **Reply #418 on:** April 26, 2015, 07:15:05 AM »

Quote from: DracoOmega on April 26, 2015, 03:12:23 AM

>Well, let's not get sidetracked. Take comfort that we have a warm place to return to, but try to focus on reaching whatever it was that we were on the cusp of recalling

>Though you never enjoy putting thoughts of Rin out of your mind, you have a task to accomplish.
>All unbidden, the image of the Dark Lady pops into your head, regarding you with those sad eyes of hers. Yours. The version of you that joined with the Champions as they wanted. Is that how she started down her path, you wonder. Leaving aside, even for a moment, those she loved, believing she would return to them, but never being able to do as she might have wanted. Did she even have a love as you have found?
>But that fate cannot be yours, you remind yourself. You forsook that destiny to carve one of your own.

>Memory is a tricky thing. A stray thought that one has nearly put their finger on can be lost forever, once one becomes distracted. This, though, feels different. The memory is still there. But even without being able to recall the details, you are sure it isn't a pleasant memory. How it could be connected to Patchouli, though, that you're still uncertain of. You're about of the same age. Could you have had a shared experience when you were so young? You don't think so, but then, Patchouli's never mentioned her childhood apart from her rather rocky relationship with her parents as a part of it. As you think on it, though, the more you think, that might be it, something that happened to you that she was around for. Or, something that happened to her when you were around? Something that happened to someone else when you two were around? The details elude you.

>Byakuren Hijiri Corruption Score: 20.
>The chill in your body intensifies, and you feel a dull pressure on your shoulders.

DracoOmega · « **Reply #419 on:** April 26, 2015, 07:20:33 AM »

>Did we have a rocky relationship with our parents or something?