Ran Quest Overtime: A Z-Machine Sidestory

[MysTeariousYukari]

> Keep moving in our current direction, but slowing so we can notice who it is.
> If we can tell it's Aya "Just a moment Aya, let's get a bit further away."
> If we can't tell who it is "Whose there?"

[Hello Purvis]

> Keep moving in our current direction, but slowing so we can notice who it is.
> If we can tell it's Aya "Just a moment Aya, let's get a bit further away."
> If we can't tell who it is "Whose there?"

>You keep moving. It's a bit dark, even for you, under those trees, but you're pretty sure you recognize that tokin.
>"I'll meet you on the other side of the forest," she replies.

>_

[MysTeariousYukari]

> Keep going along our way...
> Are we flying or walking?

[Hello Purvis]

> Keep going along our way...
> Are we flying or walking?

>You keep going.
>Are you walking or flying? The latter would be more useful for getting around the forest, at least.

>_

[axman36]

>Flying, probably be a lot easier.

[Hello Purvis]

>Flying, probably be a lot easier.

>There you have it, then. That should make getting around the forest a snap.

>_

[axman36]

>Continue off to the other side of the forest.

[Hello Purvis]

>Continue off to the other side of the forest.

>You fly to the other side of the forest, and find Aya standing by the road, watching the sky for you.
>"So how'd it go?" she asks.

>_

[MysTeariousYukari]

> "Well, I think it went rather well! Assuming you think having to wait a few years is well. But jokes aside, as is you would be best waiting around here for a while. The Yama's next time outside will almost certainly be one of her random visits to make sure Komachi isn't slacking. On my end, the Yama would come out for a chunk of time... in a few years. I have an idea to cut that down to a few minute or hours though."

[Hello Purvis]

> "Well, I think it went rather well! Assuming you think having to wait a few years is well. But jokes aside, as is you would be best waiting around here for a while. The Yama's next time outside will almost certainly be one of her random visits to make sure Komachi isn't slacking. On my end, the Yama would come out for a chunk of time... in a few years. I have an idea to cut that down to a few minute or hours though."

>"Go on," says Aya.

>_

[axman36]

>"You see, we need to somehow link Byakuren together with the flowers we saw earlier. I'm trying to see if we could possibly convince Komachi that these are an alarming warning of an emergency causing her to call out the Yama to investigate. Once she's out, then I'd be able to talk to her and we could move on to the next step from there."

[Hello Purvis]

>"You see, we need to somehow link Byakuren together with the flowers we saw earlier. I'm trying to see if we could possibly convince Komachi that these are an alarming warning of an emergency causing her to call out the Yama to investigate. Once she's out, then I'd be able to talk to her and we could move on to the next step from there."

>"Mmmm, good plan!" says Aya. "So how are we going to link the two?"

>_

[axman36]

>"I think I have one of two ideas we could do. First, we can possibly convince her to take a picture of her next to some of the flowers and possibly someone else faking their death... or we could ask Byakuren to come with us and possibly get her to talk to Komachi herself. Though I want to avoid that as I think Komachi might ask her directly to put an end to it and possibly ruin our chances. I guess we could also try and see if having a spellcard duel with Komachi might get her to call the Yama... but I seriously doubt that, it'd have to be a final case scenario."
>"One thing is, I don't exactly want to leave Komachi by herself because there's always the slightest chance that the Yama might just come in for a checkup while we're doing this... but we might have to do so anyhow."

[Hello Purvis]

>"I think I have one of two ideas we could do. First, we can possibly convince her to take a picture of her next to some of the flowers and possibly someone else faking their death... or we could ask Byakuren to come with us and possibly get her to talk to Komachi herself. Though I want to avoid that as I think Komachi might ask her directly to put an end to it and possibly ruin our chances. I guess we could also try and see if having a spellcard duel with Komachi might get her to call the Yama... but I seriously doubt that, it'd have to be a final case scenario."
>"One thing is, I don't exactly want to leave Komachi by herself because there's always the slightest chance that the Yama might just come in for a checkup while we're doing this... but we might have to do so anyhow."

>"Luring Byakuren up here might be the best," says Aya. "but...Yuka's definitely going to be a problem for that."

>_

[axman36]

>"Yes... we may have to either catch the garden when Yuka's asleep or directly confront her ourselves. We should try to see if we could do the latter now as she's close by."

[Hello Purvis]

>"Yes... we may have to either catch the garden when Yuka's asleep or directly confront her ourselves. We should try to see if we could do the latter now as she's close by."

>"I'm...going to just...leave that to you, then," says Aya, grimacing.

>_

[axman36]

>Shiver.
>"Alright, I'll do the negotiations then.
>Head off towards Mugenkan.

[Hello Purvis]

>Shiver.
>"Alright, I'll do the negotiations then.
>Head off towards Mugenkan.

>You shiver. Dealing with Yuka twice in one night...
>"Alright," says Aya. "I'll wait here. Maybe we'll luck out and the Yama will drop in."
>You make your way back toward where you saw Yuka last. You can see the glittering flowers, but no sign of Yuka herself.

>_

[UncertainJakutten]

> Be puzzled at this.
> Examine flowers SUPER CAREFULLY.
> Don't touch them.

[Hello Purvis]

> Be puzzled at this.
> Examine flowers SUPER CAREFULLY.
> Don't touch them.

>You aren't sure where Yuka is. Maybe she's off doing something else."
>You draw close to the flowers, taking care not to touch them. They are silvery in color, and shine in the moonlight. Looking closely, you can somewhat see a kind of splotch then that might be a crude reflection of your face.

>_

[UncertainJakutten]

> Well, if she's not around, we were planning to have Aya take pictures, right?

[Hello Purvis]

> Well, if she's not around, we were planning to have Aya take pictures, right?

>You could theoretically do that.

>_

[UncertainJakutten]

> OH right, we wanted Byakuren to come.
> So...I guess we should go to her?

[Hello Purvis]

> OH right, we wanted Byakuren to come.
> So...I guess we should go to her?

>That may be a good idea.

>_

[UncertainJakutten]

> Go to Byakuren and stop being uncertain!

[Hello Purvis]

> Go to Byakuren and stop being uncertain!

>You make your way back southward, past the village and toward where you saw the ship land. It is, for better or worse, where you remember it landing; not too far from your home. You can see some activity up on the deck.

>_

[UncertainJakutten]

> Examine Activity.

[Hello Purvis]

> Examine Activity.

>Getting a closer look, it seems to be Shou, mopping the deck. She looks rather nonplussed.

>_

[UncertainJakutten]

> "Hey Shou! Is there any chance I could talk to Byakuren about something?"

[Hello Purvis]

> "Hey Shou! Is there any chance I could talk to Byakuren about something?"

>"Oh, hello again, Ran," says Shou. "What would you need with her?"

>_