Maribel Quest Succeeding - A Z-Machine Adventure

[Hello Purvis]

> "Do we use gloves, long gloves..and masks?"

>"There's some gloves, alright," says Murasa.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"Is this... something that needs doing down here often?"
>Ponder the difficulty of creating a border between scent and nose

[Hello Purvis]

>"Is this... something that needs doing down here often?"
>Ponder the difficulty of creating a border between scent and nose

>"Yep," says Murasa. "See, while we originally made the Clinic as a place for oni to get better, it turns out most of the time, they don't get hurt that bad. What they do end up doing, however, is drinking themselves stupid. So we give 'em a place to sleep off the real bad hangovers and have someone take care of them. You'd be surprised how much the appreciate it."
>You emerge from the alley, and find yourself near the clinic.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"That... sounds like a pretty unpleasant job, to be honest. I... I guess you get a little numb to it after a while?"

[Hello Purvis]

>"That... sounds like a pretty unpleasant job, to be honest. I... I guess you get a little numb to it after a while?"

>"I lived on a ship," she says. "This is nothing. Did a number of poor Ichirin, though. And I think Nazrin just paid someone else to do it. I do do some actual medical work, though. Mostly house calls."
>She leads you into the clinic and...yep, those buckets need cleaned. You don't even have to get close to tell.

>_

[Doll.S CUBE]

>Ponder the difficulty of creating a border between scent and nose

> Practice that barrier, we definitely need it

[DracoOmega]

>"Yeah... I, uh, don't really drink so this isn't something I'm used to being around. But... I guess I'll try my best.... somehow."
>"Where the cleaning stuff?"

[Hello Purvis]

>"Yeah... I, uh, don't really drink so this isn't something I'm used to being around. But... I guess I'll try my best.... somehow."
>"Where the cleaning stuff?"

>"You'll be alright. Just don't think about where it came from."
>"I'll get it."

> Practice that barrier, we definitely need it

>It'll certainly be worth a try. You give it a shot while Murasa disappears into the back. Unfortunately, you find that scents and noses seem to be compliments, and don't have much luck with making a worthwhile barrier. But you have a momentary success sometimes, and it gives you a second of relief.
>Murasa returns with a large bucket full of water, and some rags. She tosses you two of them. "Tie the big one around you face," she says.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>Tie the big one around our face.
>"Didn't you say you also had some gloves?"

[Hello Purvis]

>Tie the big one around our face.
>"Didn't you say you also had some gloves?"

>You do so. It really doesn't stop the smell, but you feel a little better about your breathing.
>She tosses you a pair of thick, leather gloves next. "You're better off without them, it goes faster."

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"Easy for you to say...."
>Put the gloves on
>Start scrubbing buckets

[Hello Purvis]

>"Easy for you to say...."
>Put the gloves on
>Start scrubbing buckets

>Murasa just laughs as you put on your gloves and roll up your sleeves, then get to work.
>The good news is that there's only ten buckets for you to clean, Murasa gets the rest. The other good news is that none of the buckets need to be emptied. As well, the water Murasa brought is warm, which is a little confusing until you learn that she keeps a kettle on the stove, for emergencies. At least it makes the cleaning go faster. To your credit, you think you manage to keep in control of your stomach pretty well; Tokiko might well have shell shocked you a bit in that department.
>Eventually, the damned deed is done. Murasa had the foresight to set aside a warm basin, for which you are very grateful.
>"That's done." says Murasa, as she places a bucket. "Hmmm. Want to do one of my house calls for me? Shouldn't be hard."

>_

[DracoOmega]

>Do we know basic first aid?
>Assuming not: "I don't really have any medical knowledge, though. Or is it just a delivery or something?"

[Hello Purvis]

>Do we know basic first aid?
>Assuming not: "I don't really have any medical knowledge, though. Or is it just a delivery or something?"

>"Delivery," says Murasa, "helping an old lady with her medicines, keeping her company a bit. Shouldn't be too hard. I'd do it, but I want to leave things open right now."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "I think I could do that, though Yuugi's job would probably come first. Who is it?"

[Hello Purvis]

> "I think I could do that, though Yuugi's job would probably come first. Who is it?"

>"Her name is Mari, she lives on the northwest side, not too far from the Palace of the Earth Spirits."
>Murasa picks up a wooden box and opens it up. Inside are a number of little boxes. "She'll need some ground queensfoil," she points to a leafy herb that looks suspiciously like lettuce, "And some moonwort, sliced, mixed together and steeped into a tea. It's for her lungs. Hmm, see that little pouch in there? Use it to stop by the herbalist when you're done and get everything refilled."

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"Um, what am I supposed to grind it with? And I don't even know what moonwort looks like. How is it supposed to be sliced? How long does it need to steep? And, uh, sorry for not having a clue."

[Hello Purvis]

>"Um, what am I supposed to grind it with? And I don't even know what moonwort looks like. How is it supposed to be sliced? How long does it need to steep? And, uh, sorry for not having a clue."

>"There's a mortar and pestle right there," says Murasa, pointing to a little bowl and a short rod beside it.  "The moonwort is right here, sorry, I thought everyone knew that one." She points to a small bulb that looks somewhat like rhubarb or horseradish. "Slice one up real thin, and take leave them in the strainer, they don't stay in the tea. Brew it five minutes. Got all that?"

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"I think so. And where can I find the herbalist?"

[Hello Purvis]

>"I think so. And where can I find the herbalist?"

>"There's a couple of them in the market, and maybe one in the residential district; that place tends to have a lot of turnover. Any of them will do, none of this is rare, but the one I like is on the west side of the street, right by the fried rice stand.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"Ok, I think I've got it."
>"Um, now that I think of it, I'm not sure a name and a neighborhood is going to be enough for me to find the right house...."

[Hello Purvis]

>"Ok, I think I've got it."
>"Um, now that I think of it, I'm not sure a name and a neighborhood is going to be enough for me to find the right house...."

>She nods. "It's the third building west of Bridge street. She's right in the middle."

>_

[UncertainJakutten]

> Ask her about our components list if we can gracefully move into it.

[DracoOmega]

>"Ok, I think I've got all that straight."
>Take the box
>"I'll be back as soon as I'm finished."

>Head back towards the Palace of the Earth Spirits
>See if we can find a place marked Bridge Street

> Ask her about our components list if we can gracefully move into it.

>We can always ask about this when we come back. Good will earned, and all.

[UncertainJakutten]

Was more interested in making sure you all didn't forget, since she should be knowledge on the herb we need at least .

[DracoOmega]

No worries, I hadn't forgotten ^^;

[Hello Purvis]

> Ask her about our components list if we can gracefully move into it.

>"Ok, I think I've got all that straight."
>Take the box
>"I'll be back as soon as I'm finished."

>Head back towards the Palace of the Earth Spirits
>See if we can find a place marked Bridge Street

>We can always ask about this when we come back. Good will earned, and all.

>You take the medicine box and head out. "Just don't drop it!" says Murasa.
>You head toward the Palace of the Earth Spirits, and quickly find that Bridge Street is the one that runs through the Market and divide the town into halves. Convenient!
>You decide to bother Murasa about unusual herbs later on.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>Go to the third building west of Bridge Street, and knock on the door

[Hello Purvis]

>Go to the third building west of Bridge Street, and knock on the door

>You make your way down to the residential area, starting to feel comfortably familiar with the city, and seek out the third building.
>It seems to have seven or so homes built into it.  You recall Murasa mentioned Mari lives in the middle one. You knock on the door. "What?" answers a thin, reedy voice.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"Are you Mari? I'm here from the clinic."