Author Topic: Maribel Quest Adjoining: A Z-Machine Adventure (Read 56789 times)

E-Nazrin · « **Reply #840 on:** September 12, 2010, 10:45:41 AM »

>Try not to shout.
>See if any are headed for us! Or from behind.
>... oh fuck, are these going to hurt more than danmaku? They are, aren't they?

DracoOmega · « **Reply #841 on:** September 12, 2010, 10:46:39 AM »

>Prodding at our senses? Can we tell more specifically what it felt like? Is it possible that we sense a trace of Sakuya's time stop ability?
>Continue to watch, while keeping an eye out for stray fire or 3rd parties

Hello Purvis · « **Reply #842 on:** September 12, 2010, 10:49:33 AM »

Quote from: YukarE-mouse on September 12, 2010, 10:45:41 AM

>Try not to shout.
>See if any are headed for us! Or from behind.
>... oh fuck, are these going to hurt more than danmaku? They are, aren't they?

>You try not to shout, and mange to succeed at being speechless instead.
>Looking around, you don't seem to be in any of the knives paths. The faeries, on the other hand, Do not fare so well as the knives cut through their ranks, popping easily a score of them.
>While looking around, you notice a blonde woman approaching by air from the northeast.

>_

E-Nazrin · « **Reply #843 on:** September 12, 2010, 10:51:49 AM »

>Oh shit.
>Which way is Alice's house relative to the mansion?
>Is there anything distinctive about this woman?
>Head roughly into her path, if she's approaching the SDM closely.

Hello Purvis · « **Reply #844 on:** September 12, 2010, 10:56:49 AM »

Quote from: YukarE-mouse on September 12, 2010, 10:51:49 AM

>Oh shit.
>Which way is Alice's house relative to the mansion?
>Is there anything distinctive about this woman?
>Head roughly into her path, if she's approaching the SDM closely.

>This isn't good.
>You are certain Alice's cabin is to the northeast.
>She is blonde, wearing a blue dress, and flying. She seems to have a couple smaller things flying around her as well.
>You move to intercept her; while you hear more faeries cry out, and lots of danmaku fire.
>As you move to intercept, you become very certain this is Alice.

>_

DracoOmega · « **Reply #845 on:** September 12, 2010, 10:58:24 AM »

>Move a bit closer to her, but not so close that we're likely to be in her firing range
>"Alice! What're you doing here?"

E-Nazrin · « **Reply #846 on:** September 12, 2010, 10:59:43 AM »

Well, I stand corrected. Unless she got the idea from it being recommended. :V

>Don't let her out of our sight, for now.

Hello Purvis · « **Reply #847 on:** September 12, 2010, 11:07:38 AM »

Quote from: DracoOmega on September 12, 2010, 10:58:24 AM

>Move a bit closer to her, but not so close that we're likely to be in her firing range
>"Alice! What're you doing here?"

>You get closer, and call out to her over the chaos.
>"I would ask you the same thing!" she says, "And I suspect you would have the same answer."

Quote from: YukarE-mouse on September 12, 2010, 10:59:43 AM

>Don't let her out of our sight, for now.

>You certainly will not let her out of your sight.

>_

DracoOmega · « **Reply #848 on:** September 12, 2010, 11:08:45 AM »

>"I'm here to observe. Is that all you're planning to do?"

Hello Purvis · « **Reply #849 on:** September 12, 2010, 11:15:08 AM »

Quote from: DracoOmega on September 12, 2010, 11:08:45 AM

>"I'm here to observe. Is that all you're planning to do?"

>"As I said," Says Alice, "It should be an entertaining show."
>While she speaks, you feel that prodding at your senses again a moment or so before you hear more cries from the faerie forces. Perhaps your hunch was right and you are sensing Sakuya's abilities?

>_

DracoOmega · « **Reply #850 on:** September 12, 2010, 11:17:50 AM »

>"As long as that's all you do."
>Position ourself so that we can watch the battle AND keep Alice in our line-of-sight at the same time
>Try to focus on that sensation if we feel it again. See if we can pick up on it better. Sakuya slipped into our time stop when we did it. Maybe we can see a little bit of hers if we try hard enough?

E-Nazrin · « **Reply #851 on:** September 12, 2010, 11:19:33 AM »

Rather than accusing her,
>"Let's stick to observing, then, shall we?"
>... Renko was expecting her to have more cooldown time than that, wasn't she? That's not good...

Hello Purvis · « **Reply #852 on:** September 12, 2010, 11:24:28 AM »

Quote from: DracoOmega on September 12, 2010, 11:17:50 AM

>"As long as that's all you do."
>Position ourself so that we can watch the battle AND keep Alice in our line-of-sight at the same time
>Try to focus on that sensation if we feel it again. See if we can pick up on it better. Sakuya slipped into our time stop when we did it. Maybe we can see a little bit of hers if we try hard enough?

Quote from: YukarE-mouse on September 12, 2010, 11:19:33 AM

Rather than accusing her,
>"Let's stick to observing, then, shall we?"
>... Renko was expecting her to have more cooldown time than that, wasn't she? That's not good...

>"I don't think you're in much of a position to make demands of me or take up airs," says Alice, "given what you've cost me already. I might decide to charge you the interest."
>Alice moves past you and gets fairly close to the to the battle, having a seat upon the wall near the gate. One of the two dolls following her watches you.
>Looking back toward the battle, the faerie forces are noticeably smaller now. As well, you can see a few faeries in maid outfits near her, trying to lend supporting fire. Renko's forces are laying down a fairly wide field of fire, while a few faeries are trying to harry Sakuya personally. You're too far away to see much more.
>Sakuya is definitely doing more damage than you had hoped.

>_

DracoOmega · « **Reply #853 on:** September 12, 2010, 11:26:11 AM »

>Move a little closer, while keeping a polite (and potentially safe) distance from Alice
>Estimate percentage of remaining fairies

Hello Purvis · « **Reply #854 on:** September 12, 2010, 11:35:32 AM »

Quote from: DracoOmega on September 12, 2010, 11:26:11 AM

>Move a little closer, while keeping a polite (and potentially safe) distance from Alice
>Estimate percentage of remaining fairies

>You get a bit closer, keeping a polite distance from Alice.
>"Shame I missed the first parts," she says, loud enough to be heard.
>You are pretty sure that Renko is down to seventy-five percent of her original forces. You also feel the prodding sensation again. It's almost like being lightheaded, but only for a moment and only in a single spot...

>_

DracoOmega · « **Reply #855 on:** September 12, 2010, 11:37:15 AM »

>Did this lightheaded sensation seem to coincide with more waves of knives suddenly appearing?
>Can we tell WHERE this spot is? Try hard to locate it.

E-Nazrin · « **Reply #856 on:** September 12, 2010, 11:38:50 AM »

>Wonder if Koishi's involved with this somehow...

Hello Purvis · « **Reply #857 on:** September 12, 2010, 11:45:10 AM »

Quote from: DracoOmega on September 12, 2010, 11:37:15 AM

>Did this lightheaded sensation seem to coincide with more waves of knives suddenly appearing?
>Can we tell WHERE this spot is? Try hard to locate it.

>After a moment, it certainly does. More knifes appear, going in many directions at once. Paying attention to Sakuya, however, you see she is far from uninjured herself. The faeries are weaving tight webs of fire around her, and there are still several trying to stay close to her; at least until the latest wave of knives cuts down most of them.
>You really can't. Maybe things are too chaotic for you to really concentrate on it.

Quote from: YukarE-mouse on September 12, 2010, 11:38:50 AM

>Wonder if Koishi's involved with this somehow...

>You have no idea.

>_

DracoOmega · « **Reply #858 on:** September 12, 2010, 11:46:57 AM »

>Continue observing closely, sparing just enough attention to Alice to notice any unusual actions or movements on her part.
>Be ready to focus on that odd sensation if it occurs again.

Hello Purvis · « **Reply #859 on:** September 12, 2010, 11:51:58 AM »

Quote from: DracoOmega on September 12, 2010, 11:46:57 AM

>Continue observing closely, sparing just enough attention to Alice to notice any unusual actions or movements on her part.
>Be ready to focus on that odd sensation if it occurs again.

>You watch the situation unfold, as more of Renko's faeries succumb to the knives. Sakuya does a good job dodging through all the fire; rather impressive given she has scattered faeries taking aim at her, and many more trying to pin her down. You think you can see Cirno doing her best to fill the air. You also notice there's only a few of the maids backing up Sakuya left. She sends knives everywhere, but the cloud is no longer so dense that her knives are guaranteed to hit anything.
>Then you see a purple-clad shape fly through the open from doors. At the same time, you feel that prodding feeling again.

>_

DracoOmega · « **Reply #860 on:** September 12, 2010, 11:54:45 AM »

>Focus closely on the prodding. Do our best to pin it down somehow.

E-Nazrin · « **Reply #861 on:** September 12, 2010, 11:56:16 AM »

>Uhoh. Sakuya-Patchouli combo. This could be ugly. Be quick with the box, fairies...
>Any activity from Alice?

Hello Purvis · « **Reply #862 on:** September 12, 2010, 12:05:44 PM »

Quote from: DracoOmega on September 12, 2010, 11:54:45 AM

>Focus closely on the prodding. Do our best to pin it down somehow.

>You try, and you simply cannot pin down where the sensation is prodding you at all, just somewhere around you head.
>Sakuya vanishes from her current position, and appears some height above the faeries, carrying a huge bag, easily the size of a full garbage bag. At the same time, the purple-clad figure, Patchouli, flies underneath the cloud, and comes up behind it. Quickly, part of the cloud disengages to meet Patchouli, effectively splitting Renko's forces in half. You think that Daiyousei is leading the forces that split away, but it is hard to be sure.
>Sakuya opens the bag, and gives it a powerful shake, ignoring the bullets slamming into her. Dozens of brightly, glittery objects tumble from it, sparkling in the sunlight and falling to the ground. You see other small, round objects among them, their shape and lack of sparkle leading you to think it may be candy.
>Huge portions of the faerie army immediately break ranks, swooping downward to catch the falling objects. The danmaku in the sky immediately lightens. At the same time, Patchouli begins to make a few motions; and immense beams begin to fire from her, cutting into the army and heading toward Renko.

>_

E-Nazrin · « **Reply #863 on:** September 12, 2010, 12:07:02 PM »

>Begin to facepalm. Think better of it.

Kilgamayan · « **Reply #864 on:** September 12, 2010, 12:19:28 PM »

EDIT 2: No, never mind, I'm not doing this again.I deserve having to watch this game unfold this way anyway.

EDIT 3: Well, hrm, this is actually still salvageable. That candy trick makes things interesting.

E-Nazrin · « **Reply #865 on:** September 12, 2010, 02:50:00 PM »

Do explain what's upset you, Kilga?

communist unity (comm-unity) · « **Reply #866 on:** September 12, 2010, 04:48:18 PM »

> "They're using... candy to beat the fairies."
> Mentally curse Sakuya's genius.

Blitzer · « **Reply #867 on:** September 12, 2010, 04:52:31 PM »

I'm wondering how this game was intended to end.

>Look at the battle scene with interest. And keep an eye on Alice.
>Wonder how (EDIT: No, not why) they got all of that candy.

Kilgamayan · « **Reply #868 on:** September 12, 2010, 04:57:59 PM »

Quote from: YukarE-mouse on September 12, 2010, 02:50:00 PM

Do explain what's upset you, Kilga?

My issue right now is that I have no idea who's side we're actually on in this fight, and in thinking about the combined string of events between yesterday and today, I can't see how we, in good conscience, can claim to love Renko in any capacity.

Kilgamayan · « **Reply #869 on:** September 12, 2010, 05:25:08 PM »

Actually I talked with UK about this and the conversation really helped me outline what I think we're doing egregiously wrong here.

[13:05:01] <UncertainKitten> Ah. You're thinking of helping Renko? I don't think that wise. And I DO think she was aware of the risks
[13:06:24] <Kilgamyon> I'm thinking about helping her because I don't see how we can look her in the face and tell her we love her otherwise.
[13:07:31] <UncertainKitten> But she also knew we wouldn't interfere. While our help would be appreciated, I don't think she expects it of us
[13:07:58] <Kilgamyon> You don't think she's going to wonder where that giant bag of candy came from?
[13:08:03] <Kilgamyon> *she's not going to wonder
[13:08:11] <Kilgamyon> Wait no first time was correct.
[13:08:29] <UncertainKitten> Not from us...
[13:08:52] <UncertainKitten> It could be we let slip it was faeries
[13:08:56] <Kilgamyon> Not directly from us, no, but the candy makes it clear Sakuya went into the battle with a plan.
[13:09:01] <Kilgamyon> How would she have known?
[13:09:21] <UncertainKitten> nn...
[13:09:22] <Kilgamyon> And why have we been so reluctant to fight?
[13:09:29] <Kilgamyon> Renko's a smart girl, she'll put 2 and 2 together.
[13:09:56] <UncertainKitten> Probably should have told the truth from the start
[13:10:10] <UncertainKitten> But breaking our word is going to make things REALLY BAD for us
[13:10:21] <Kilgamyon> Yes it is.
[13:10:24] <Kilgamyon> This is why I'm aggravated.
[13:10:38] <Kilgamyon> Because Draco set things up so that we CAN'T interfere without breaking our word with the dialogue last night.
[13:10:49] <UncertainKitten> ah...
[13:10:58] <UncertainKitten> I don't think he did that intentionally
[13:11:01] <Kilgamyon> I certainly don't think he intentionally sabotaged anything.
[13:11:10] <Kilgamyon> But I talked to him about the possibility of interfering last night.
[13:11:17] <UncertainKitten> ah...
[13:11:29] <Kilgamyon> And mentioned wanting dialogue that left our interference open, just in case of emergency.
[13:12:13] <Kilgamyon> So now either we break our word to the SDM, or Renko learns we went behind her back.
[13:12:16] <Kilgamyon> No-win situation.
[13:12:43] <UncertainKitten> Yep.
[13:13:08] <UncertainKitten> Well, which do you feel we can face better? Facing Renko's music would likely be less painful in the long run, but could be...problematic.
[13:13:11] <UncertainKitten> For the relationship
[13:13:25] <UncertainKitten> Breaking our word will have serious consequences for our relations with the SDM
[13:13:32] <UncertainKitten> We'll be closed off to at least Sakuya and Patchy
[13:13:40] <UncertainKitten> FURTHER, Marisa is not as likely to be kind to us
[13:13:55] <Kilgamyon> Sakuya and Patchy understand the concept of loyalty.
[13:14:20] <Kilgamyon> I don't think the consequences there will be as dire as everyone else seems to think they will be.
[13:14:39] <UncertainKitten> nn...
[13:15:04] <Kilgamyon> It is for this reason that I actually think facing Renko's music would likely be more painful in the long run. This is going to do serious damage to the relationship, if not destroy it outright.
[13:15:13] <Kilgamyon> And don't forget, Renko went to bat for us and broke her word to Alice.
[13:15:16] <Kilgamyon> To Alice's face, no less.

Bolding designed to emphasize the important parts of why I think we're being a total jackoff to someone that loves us and we have claimed to love in return. If nothing else, the last two lines loom huge to me, because I imagine there are more people who don't want to break our word to the SDM. Can we/you really sit there and live with yourself knowing that your best friend and lover broke her word to her mentor at our/your request while we/you refuse to do the same for her in regards to people that don't mean as much to us?