Reisen Quest Still: A Z-Machine Adventure

[Hello Purvis]

>Accept that the power is pretty fucking awesome, but remain mindful of lessons in humility. Just because we can kick anyones ass and know it doesn't mean we have to be a jerk. We're pretty cool, and knowing that ourselves is good enough.

>It'll be alright, you tell yourself. Even if you've surpassed Eirin and Kaguya, you still have much to learn from them.

>Besides. Being ungodly strong never stopped anyone from losing a danmaku match. Even Reimu gets hit by a fairy now and then. We're strong, but not infallible.
>On subject of acceptance, wonder what the requirements the gems had were?
>Also ponder asking Remilia if they could alter their own fate to be 'found' by those they picked, such as yourself. It seems plausible, given how quick you found them all.

>This is also true. You feel it would be very wise not to forget it.
>You have no idea. You suspect Yuyuko might not be eligible, give she never used the Blue Gem. But that is about all you know, save that you and Iria passed muster.
>That's possible. How did Rinnosuke get the Red Gem, and Yuyuko the Blue Gem, anyways?

>forward story about the apparition, with a point about its unnatural appearance and possible connections to the afterlife and/or some sort of dolls

>You tell her about your latest encounter with the Apparition. Patchouli draws her lips into a thin line. "Hn. Well, I do not see anything within the gems themselves that seem to be tied to any thing like that, so I do not believe it is their creation. As for what it is, I am reluctant to tie it to the dead. Despite its spectral nature and lack of speech, it does not seem like a proper ghost at all. I suppose it could well be some creation of Makai, but it does not seem to be of that style. The fact that it looks artificial, I think, is most useful. I suspect it could be the manifestation of some sort of curse, perhaps used by an enemy of the gems' makers. The only thing that seems off is that there is no record whatsoever of Iria meeting any thing like that when she used to them gems in the past. I am going to need more before I can say anything definite. My studies thus far have not shed any light on that issue."

>_

[E-Nazrin]

>"I don't suppose there's anything I could do to help with investigating that on my own?"
>"..... or, considering how Alice the Dollmaster and Hina the Curse Goddess are currently in the same house, perhaps that option's pretty obvious?"

[Hello Purvis]

>"I don't suppose there's anything I could do to help with investigating that on my own?"
>"..... or, considering how Alice the Dollmaster and Hina the Curse Goddess are currently in the same house, perhaps that option's pretty obvious?"

>"Have you noticed anything else unusual?" Patchouli asks. "Any little bit you can tell me would help. I suppose you could check any other sources of information you have. The library is formidable, but not quite almighty when it comes to such research."
>Patchouli considers. "It may be worth asking, but I would not except either of them to know much about the Apparition without seeing it for themselves."

>_

[Chaore]

> Welp, Then its time to kidnap them and show them the apparition! I mean, if its going to be stalking us as we should suspect...

[E-Nazrin]

>"Well, I probably mentioned the part about having to mess with the light to even see it; somehow, it's cloaked from regular sight, and I'm not sure how. It was... thin and spindly, covered in something resembling armor. In the latest appearance, at least. It got larger after each encounter, if I recall correctly."
>"The way it hides itself... didn't the kappa have something sort of like that? Or Nitori, at least? Or did Nue's seeds act that way...?"

[Hello Purvis]

>"Well, I probably mentioned the part about having to mess with the light to even see it; somehow, it's cloaked from regular sight, and I'm not sure how. It was... thin and spindly, covered in something resembling armor. In the latest appearance, at least. It got larger after each encounter, if I recall correctly."
>"The way it hides itself... didn't the kappa have something sort of like that? Or Nitori, at least? Or did Nue's seeds act that way...?"

>It didn't seem any larger the last time, actually.
>"Yes, that hiding is...interesting. It could well be something like Nitori's camouflage. If it is created, it's possible it could have that kind of technology as a part of it. Or it might simply be some feature of its spectral nature, light may simply not affect it correctly. As for Nue's seeds, I think they disguise a thing as something else, rather than hide it entirely."

>_

[E-Nazrin]

>But then what about the balls of light in UFO?
>nod
>"I don't suppose it's possible that those two categories could overlap; the spirit of an artificial being, or a spirit put into such a body?"
>"Do you know of anyone else that's expressed interest in these gems? I'm honestly rather surprised they've been undiscovered until now."

[Serela]

>But then what about the balls of light in UFO?

Nue's ability to change/hide her form!

[Hello Purvis]

>But then what about the balls of light in UFO?
>nod
>"I don't suppose it's possible that those two categories could overlap; the spirit of an artificial being, or a spirit put into such a body?"
>"Do you know of anyone else that's expressed interest in these gems? I'm honestly rather surprised they've been undiscovered until now."

>Patchouli nods. "Both of those are possible. Trapping a spirit in an artificial body is quite doable with the right magic and lack of ethics, and there are numerous examples of artificial things gaining their own will."
>"It's the first I've heard of them," says Patchouli. "From what I can gather, they seem to have fallen out of living memory, save for older youkai such as Yukari. It makes sense that the one underground was forgotten, it was placed where people do not go. Yuyuko had one of them, and not many can enter Hakugyokurou until recently. I have no idea where Rinnosuke got his. What about the one on the mountain?"

>_

[E-Nazrin]

>"It was beneath the Moriya Shrine, placed at a miniature, ancient stone shrine of its own in the stone underground. It looked like Sanae had placed a fresh shimenawa there fairly recently, but it had been taken down by the time I arrived - probably due to the apparition."
>Where's Medicine?
>Wonder if it would be safe or reliable to ask Rinnosuke about where he got his gem, after the apparent major loss taken for it...
>"Any idea what Yukari would think of this whole mess?"

[Hello Purvis]

>"It was beneath the Moriya Shrine, placed at a miniature, ancient stone shrine of its own in the stone underground. It looked like Sanae had placed a fresh shimenawa there fairly recently, but it had been taken down by the time I arrived - probably due to the apparition."
>Where's Medicine?
>Wonder if it would be safe or reliable to ask Rinnosuke about where he got his gem, after the apparent major loss taken for it...
>"Any idea what Yukari would think of this whole mess?"

>"Hmmm. It is strange no one would find that, unless there was something special about the place. Did the Moriyas know of it?"
>Last you saw her, she was on the Lily hill, laying in the snow waiting for spring. She said she would be there if you needed anything, after asking her about UFOs.
>You aren't sure. You did pay a price he agreed to. It's possible he might try to make up the difference on future purchases. You certainly got a deal on it.
>Patchouli shakes her head. "I don't think I could understand how Yukari thinks, and likely never will, Heaven willing. I'd be surprised if she were awaken now. The heat wave kept her up longer than she wanted."

>_

[E-Nazrin]

>"The Moriyas knew of it, all right. There was a trapdoor in the building almost specifically for it, and Kanako told me where it was when I asked her about it; I assume she picked up what I've been doing from the winds or something."
>"And I suppose wondering about Yukari was more academic than anything; but Ran, at least, should be interested."

[Hello Purvis]

>"The Moriyas knew of it, all right. There was a trapdoor in the building almost specifically for it, and Kanako told me where it was when I asked her about it; I assume she picked up what I've been doing from the winds or something."
>"And I suppose wondering about Yukari was more academic than anything; but Ran, at least, should be interested."

>"Or she recognized the other gems," says Patchouli. "Hmm. Well, I suppose there was a reason no one got there."
>"Ran would certainly be interested. I don't know if she'd have much to add, though."

>_

[E-Nazrin]

>"I don't suppose it would be possible that the 'backup key' on the gems might have to do with the apparition? It seemed to be seeking the gems, but it's strange that it hadn't appeared until after I had two gems together."

[Hello Purvis]

>"I don't suppose it would be possible that the 'backup key' on the gems might have to do with the apparition? It seemed to be seeking the gems, but it's strange that it hadn't appeared until after I had two gems together."

>Patchouli shakes her head again. "It's possible. As I said earlier, I've seen no hint of anything that would beckon such a thing on the gems themselves. Your guess is as good as mine at this point."

>_

[Zemyla]

>"And another thing, it was in the room with the gem, but made no move to leave with it.  Was it just baiting a trap for us, or is there some reason why it couldn't have just left with it?"

[Hello Purvis]

>"And another thing, it was in the room with the gem, but made no move to leave with it.  Was it just baiting a trap for us, or is there some reason why it couldn't have just left with it?"

>"It is possible," says Patchouli. "That would suggest a degree of intelligence to it, as well. It just be that it got there moments before you did. I wouldn't discount either possibility. If it desires the gems, it would have to get through you even if it got that one first."

>_

[MysTeariousYukari]

> "I'm going out on a limb here, but could the Gems draw out a part of a person? Like could that creature have been a manifestation of some part of me, and manifested by the Gems? The creature was bigger and more complete with each Gem I wad found."

[Janitor Morgan]

> "...Then again, if that's the case, then why did it suddenly become more aggressive when I encountered it under the Moriya Shrine...?"

[Hello Purvis]

> "I'm going out on a limb here, but could the Gems draw out a part of a person? Like could that creature have been a manifestation of some part of me, and manifested by the Gems? The creature was bigger and more complete with each Gem I wad found."

> "...Then again, if that's the case, then why did it suddenly become more aggressive when I encountered it under the Moriya Shrine...?"

>"I don't think that would be the case," says Patchouli. "At least, there's nothing in their enchantments that I could see that would do this. But I will admit, it's a complex thing, so there is the possibility of merit in that. That said, I do not think it would be the case.
>"As for it's aggression, I can only guess. But my guess it would be tied to it becoming more complete as time went on. From what you've told me, it barely did anything the first time, and the second time it figured out how to dodge. I would say that corresponds with it becoming more aware, for lack of a better word. But that is just my guess."

>_

[E-Nazrin]

>sigh
>"I guess I'll just have to look out for it, at this point. But right now, I don't think it'll be much of a threat to my well-being."
>consider
>"Maybe I can try capturing it next time, but without unconsciousness as an option, binding it may be difficult to accomplish."
>shake head
>"Anyway, I should look into other things for now. I'm past due to try and figure out that mess with the UFOs."

[Kasu]

> Wait.  The apparition started appearing when we obtained the first two gems correct?
> "What if bringing the gems together has somehow created a more complete apparition that is being projected by the gems themselves?"

[Hello Purvis]

>sigh
>"I guess I'll just have to look out for it, at this point. But right now, I don't think it'll be much of a threat to my well-being."
>consider
>"Maybe I can try capturing it next time, but without unconsciousness as an option, binding it may be difficult to accomplish."
>shake head
>"Anyway, I should look into other things for now. I'm past due to try and figure out that mess with the UFOs."

>"You have done rather well against it. As long as it doesn't catch you too off guard,  I imagine you'll be be fine."
>"It may be possible to seal it," says Patchouli. "Sadly, that's not my specialty. It tends to be a complex process in any event."
>She nods. "If nothing else, you're well prepared to deal with anything you meet along the way."

> Wait.  The apparition started appearing when we obtained the first two gems correct?
> "What if bringing the gems together has somehow created a more complete apparition that is being projected by the gems themselves?"

>Those two events do roughly coincide.
>"It's possible," says Patchouli. "But I am not seeing anything like that in their enchantments. I suppose it could be something."

>_

[Kasu]

> "Maybe they're picking up some magical interference from something else that is projecting the apparition?"

[E-Nazrin]

>"There's a connection, but it doesn't look like we can figure it out offhand right now. Well, unless it decided to show up for further investigation, but that wouldn't be the best course of action."
>"And you have a good point about it catching me off guard; I'll be careful."
>"If I were to try sealing it, who do you think I should talk to? Reimu comes to mind first, but right now..."

[Hello Purvis]

> "Maybe they're picking up some magical interference from something else that is projecting the apparition?"

>"It could be," says Patchouli. "Regardless, it seems to be safe to assume the two are connected in some way."

>"There's a connection, but it doesn't look like we can figure it out offhand right now. Well, unless it decided to show up for further investigation, but that wouldn't be the best course of action."
>"And you have a good point about it catching me off guard; I'll be careful."
>"If I were to try sealing it, who do you think I should talk to? Reimu comes to mind first, but right now..."

>She nods.
>"Yes. We know it has some capacity for cleverness."
>"She would be the best," says Patchouli. "Perhaps Sanae, but I don't think she's had a fraction of the experience Reimu does. I suppose Byakuren may have some insights, being a magician and having been sealed herself. I don't think she would be as helpful, her focus is more on personal uplifting than purification of the world."

>_

[E-Nazrin]

>knife fcuk the typo demon
>bid Patchouli farewell and head back to Eintei to check up on Eirin and Tewi's investigations
>Stop by Alice's if it's on the way and just glance to see if the doll is still standing guard; leave it alone unless things seem to have calmed down properly

[Hello Purvis]

>knife fcuk the typo demon
>bid Patchouli farewell and head back to Eintei to check up on Eirin and Tewi's investigations
>Stop by Alice's if it's on the way and just glance to see if the doll is still standing guard; leave it alone unless things seem to have calmed down properly

>He's a wily fucker. I've been chasing him for nigh on a decade.
>"Good luck," says Patchouli as you leave. You depart Scarlet Devil Manor, the wolf falling in step behind you.
>Checking the door to Alice's home, you see that it is unguarded. That is encouraging, nothing complicated must have happened since she told you Hina's surgery was a success.

>_

[E-Nazrin]

>check in on Alice to make sure Hina's okay and ask about the Apparition

[Hello Purvis]

>check in on Alice to make sure Hina's okay and ask about the Apparition

>You knock on the door of Alice's house. A moment later, a doll opens the door and invites you inside.
>Upon entering, you see Alice sitting at the table, sewing something. You note Hina laying in the other room, but you can't see her very well. But when she looks back toward you, it confirms that she is awake.
>"That is...some flashy jewelry," says Alice. "Who did you get to make it float for you?"

>_