Sakuya Quest - A Z-Machine Adventure

[Kilgamayan]

> What are clippers?

[Hello Purvis]

> What are clippers?

>You don't immediately know, but perhaps it can be worked out from context.

>_

[Suwako Moriya]

> "Clippers? Do people forge currency here?"

[Hello Purvis]

> "Clippers? Do people forge currency here?"

>"Nah," says the youkai. "Coin clippers. They shave little bits of metal out from the coins."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> That's not a problem in our Gensokyo, is it?

[Hello Purvis]

> That's not a problem in our Gensokyo, is it?

>It may be? But you certainly haven't heard of it.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Put on a mildly disgusted face.
> "How uncouth. You have my sympathies."

[Hello Purvis]

> Put on a mildly disgusted face.
> "How uncouth. You have my sympathies."

>"Not my problem," says Mira with a shrug.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Regardless, I must be off towards home. Thank you very much again for your information. I will do my best to keep you in mind should I ever return here with excess goods."
> Take flight and head east.

[Hello Purvis]

> "Regardless, I must be off towards home. Thank you very much again for your information. I will do my best to keep you in mind should I ever return here with excess goods."
> Take flight and head east.

>She nods. "If I'm around, I'm always in the market."
>You take flight and head eastward. The town continues to stretch that direction; you've never seen the Ancient City yourself, but you can only wonder if this place dwarfs it now? The buildings become larger and spaced further apart; apparently the Heights are the rich part of town. There is certainly less activity on the streets as well, and some very lovely gardens here and there. Soon, you can see a sizable forest beyond it, bordered by a stone wall topped with what seems to be wrought iron, enclosing it like a park.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Keep going across the forest.

[Hello Purvis]

> Keep going across the forest.

>You make your way past the edge of town. The forest below is fairly light, compared to the one that you were flying over beforehand. Despite being fenced in, it's certainly seems wild and unmaintained; you even see a few faeries flitting about here and there. Further eastward, you can see mountains, while more farmland stretches to the north and south, particularly the north. After a few minutes, you catch site of a small building with a large pond behind it.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> To the building!

[Hello Purvis]

> To the building!

>You make your way toward the building. A faded red torii frames a gravel-lined road leading into the property. The grounds seem to be decently maintained, the grass clear of debris and not too overgrown, though perhaps there are more weeds than grass. At least there is more grass than bare dirt. A fieldstone path makes its way to the front of the building, a one-story affair with a sloping, gabled roof and a large shimenawa hanging from it. Two paper doors allow entry into the main building, currently closed, while a few annexes have been built into the sides, their roofs smaller than the main building's roof but of similar style. The wood is all grayed with age, but has a sense of firmness despite this. A basin for cleansing yourself rests not too far from the torii, and you can see a cabinet set up for drawing fortunes, close to a tree with several tied to it. This place feels familiar, but it doesn't quite resemble the Hakurei Shrine you know; even without the annexes.
>A tall blonde woman in shrine maiden garb is currently sweeping the porch. She waves to you and calls out "Hello! Come on in!"

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Ah... Hello."
> Head toward the woman.
> Does she look familiar?

[Hello Purvis]

> "Ah... Hello."
> Head toward the woman.
> Does she look familiar?

>You approach the woman. She is easily a head taller than you; and you are not a short person! Stout and wide-faced, she has a kind of motherly aura about her. Her smile, at least, is welcoming. "Welcome to the Hakurei Shrine," she says. "You've picked the right time, and have the place to yourself, so take your time!"

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Look around with a look of mild confusion, then return our gaze to the woman.
> "This...is the Hakurei Shrine?"

[Hello Purvis]

> Look around with a look of mild confusion, then return our gaze to the woman.
> "This...is the Hakurei Shrine?"

>"Sure is," she says. "Did you get lost while hiking or something? If so, just follow that road out there and it'll get you back to town."
>She winks, "Won't tell a soul."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Shake head.
> "This is...going to sound crazy, but this is not the Hakurei Shrine I know, and you are not the Hakurei shrine maiden I know."

[Hello Purvis]

> Shake head.
> "This is...going to sound crazy, but this is not the Hakurei Shrine I know, and you are not the Hakurei shrine maiden I know."

>"I suppose that white hair must not be for show," she says, "I've been the shrine maiden since I was half your size. Which if that's the case, I have to know your secret to looking so good!"
>"Kaori, is there someone out there?" comes a feminine voice through a window in the left annex. You can't quite see from your current position.
>"Yeah, someone with some interesting things to say."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Frown with a look of slight offense.
> "I beg your pardon?"

[Hello Purvis]

> Frown with a look of slight offense.
> "I beg your pardon?"

>She waves a hand. "Just joking around a little, sorry. But I've been the shrine maiden here a good seventeen years, and you don't look like someone who would remember my mom."

>_

[the old guy]

>whats your name?

[Hello Purvis]

>whats your name?

>I'm a parser. My name is parser.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Your mother..."
> Point to the shrine interior.
> "That woman called you 'Kaori', yes? What was your mother's name?"

[Hello Purvis]

> "Your mother..."
> Point to the shrine interior.
> "That woman called you 'Kaori', yes? What was your mother's name?"

>She shakes her head. "Heh, don't let her hear you calling her my mother. And Kaori is my name, my mom's name is Rie."
>A side door opens, and a shorter blonde woman steps out. Round-face with reddish-brown eyes, she wears a wide-sleeved yellow blouse with a black skirt, and a red apron with images of wheat embroidered on it. A bright red mob cap rests on top her head, with a bunch of grapes off to its side.  Her lower legs and feet and uncovered, you quickly notice that both her feet are left feet.
>Though you've never personally met her, you immediately recognize who this is.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Put on a look of mild shock.
> "Praise the fates! Someone I recognize."

[Hello Purvis]

> Put on a look of mild shock.
> "Praise the fates! Someone I recognize."

>"Hello," she says, bowing her head a little. "I'm afraid you have me at a disadvantage."
>"She says she doesn't know who I was," Kaori says.
>"Odd," Minoriko replies, giving you an appraising look.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "You are Minoriko Aki, harvest goddess, yes? One who appears in Gensokyo?"
> Look to Kaori, then back to Minoriko.
> "A land whose Hakurei shrine maiden, last I was aware, was named Reimu?"

[Hello Purvis]

> "You are Minoriko Aki, harvest goddess, yes? One who appears in Gensokyo?"
> Look to Kaori, then back to Minoriko.
> "A land whose Hakurei shrine maiden, last I was aware, was named Reimu?"

>Minoriko frown as you speak. Kaori seems about to say something, before the goddess raises a finger to silence her. Then Minoriko turns back to the door and opens it. "Honey, I need you out here for a minute," she calls inside.
>Minoriko then turns to you and says, "I do appear in Gensokyo, yes."
>"Unless someone's moved the shrine, that's where we are right now," Kaori adds.
>Before you can reply, the door slides open and Reimu steps out. Sort of.
>There's no question this is Reimu, you know her face far too well. However, there's quite a few things wrong. She's definitely taller than you remember, and a bit more shapely. Her clothing bears more embroidery, cherry blossom shaps running up and down the length of a dress that reaches her ankles. Her hair is longer as well, nearly reaching her knees; her hair tubes have been elongated to compensate. There's something about her that feels off; you find yourself wondering if she's lost her humanity in some way or another.
>Reimu's eyes fall on you as she steps out. She pauses at the threshold of the door, and for a moment, silence reigns. Then finally she says, "...Where the hell have you been?!"

>_