Reimu Quest (Part 4)

[Hello Purvis]

>Let's head to where the trees thing out.

[日巫子]

>Let's head to where the trees thing out.

> You continue on through the trees.  The forest, you note, is eerily serene: no birds call from the trees, no animals rustle in the underbrush, and you don't even see any insects.
> As the trees thin out, the grass gets longer.  You start seeing red flowers dotting the landscape.  By the time you pass the last tree, the grass is almost up to your shoulders.  The sky stretches out above you in an endless expanse.  The grass here has faded from green to gold, with more of the red flowers present.  Up ahead you see that the grass has parted like waves, forming a path leading to the forest on the other side.  From above the treetops, in the far distance, is a mountain range.

> _

[Hello Purvis]

>Follow that path for now.

[日巫子]

>Follow that path for now.

> You walk through the field, taking the path of the parted grass.  The scent of ginger grows stronger, but not enough for your head to start spinning.  When you reach the end of the field, you find that the forest you're at the edge of is very...normal looking.  It's quite different from the Forest of Magic in that it looks tamer, the trees are shorter and slimmer, with the normal amount of sunlight and foliage one would expect from a forest.  You still smell the ginger from farther in, but this time it's mixed in with the warm scent of the earth and the sun.  The path you took from the field continues on in, marked by paw prints.

> _

[Hello Purvis]

>Follow that gingiva ginger!

[日巫子]

>Follow that gingiva ginger!

> TWO SQUIDS IN COITUS RESEMBLE HANDS IN PALMED EMBRACE
> You follow your nose, walking along with the paw prints through the forest.  You go down and up the bumpy terrain, and before you can get used to the forest, you've come to another break.
> The path splits off here.  To your left, the paw prints continue along the winding path flanked by trees, around a corner and out of sight.  To your right, you see a set of stairs leading somewhere unknown to your current location.

> _

[Hello Purvis]

>What does our nose tell us with regards to the direction of the ginger scent?

[日巫子]

>What does our nose tell us with regards to the direction of the ginger scent?

> It could really be coming from either direction.  You, unfortunately, do not have the nose of a wolf tengu.

> _

[Hello Purvis]

>Let's try the stairs, at least until the smell fades.

[日巫子]

>Let's try the stairs, at least until the smell fades.

> You take the stairs.
> Walking up the stairs, you find them to be in well-kept condition.  The smell of ginger doesn't fade, not even when you see the red shrine gate at the top of the steps.
> Reaching the top of the steps, you find a short cobblestone pathway leading to a modestly-sized shrine.  A rope and bell hang over the offertory box, and flowered bushes grow near the steps leading up to it.  There are a few lanterns to light to the way, but since it's broad daylight, they aren't lit.  A fat sparrow hops along on the path, pecking for food as it goes.

> _

[Hello Purvis]

>Wander around the front a bit and follow our nose.

[日巫子]

>Wander around the front a bit and follow our nose.

> You enter the shrine grounds and meander along.  You follow the scent up onto the porch and to the front door.  It's probably coming from inside, or around the back.

> _

[Hello Purvis]

>Let's head inside.

[日巫子]

>Let's head inside.

> You slide open the door and go inside.
> It's a neat house, from what you see.  There's a woven rug at your feet, presumably a place to leave your shoes before stepping inside.  Off to the side is a small bench, under which some shoes are lined up.  There are a few pairs of flats, some ankle boots, and neutral-colored saddle shoes that look like they would fit an adult.  Next to them are some small shoes that quite obviously belong to a child.  A coat hanger is attached to the wall above the bench, but there are only umbrellas on it now.
> The hallway extends straight into the rest of the house.  You see part of a kitchen at the very end of the hall.  There are two doors to the left and right, which are closed.

> _

[Hello Purvis]

>Remove shoes, head into the kitchen.

[日巫子]

>Remove shoes, head into the kitchen.

> Leaving your shoes at the door, you travel back to the kitchen.
> No one is in here.  There's a counter that wraps around the walls, and a table with two chairs sits at the center.  A dish towel has been strewn haphazardly over one of the chairs, and some dishes sit in the drying rack.  It smells of ginger, and some other spices as well.  Is that cinnamon?

> _

[Hello Purvis]

>Let's have a look around for gingery foodstuffs. Presuming none reveal themselves, examine the spices.

[日巫子]

>Let's have a look around for gingery foodstuffs. Presuming none reveal themselves, examine the spices.

> You rummage through the cabinets and fridge.  There are all the standard foods you'd expect to see in any old house, but there's one thing you're looking for.
> Among the vegetables in the fridge, you see a small plastic bag with some ginger medallions in it, but there's no way you could smell that from all the way on the other side of the forest.

> _

[Hello Purvis]

>Sniff around. Could the odor be coming from elsewhere?

[日巫子]

>Sniff around. Could the odor be coming from elsewhere?

> It's possible.  You can smell it coming from all directions in the house.

> _

[Dizzy H. "Muffin" Muffin]

> Inventory.

[Hello Purvis]

>Wander into an adjoining room.

[日巫子]

> Inventory.

INVENTORY

> Modern shrine maiden robes
   > Pretty much a highly stylized schoolgirl uniform.  Complete with cute little shoes, ankle socks, and hair decs.
> Detached sleeves
   > Where you keep all of your items.  For some reason, they have a functioning hammerspace which you suspect is Yukari's doing.
> Swimsuit
        > Made by Kourin, for you, to navigate the waters easier.  Currently bloodstained.
> Yin yang orb
   > Your signature weapon.
   > You're the only one who can touch it without either burning yourself (human) or suffering excruciating pain (youkai).
> Gohei
   > Marisa jokes that it's like a magic wand, but you refuse to be associated with Gensokyo's magician population.
> Spellcards
   > Dream Sign "Evil Sealing Circle" (4 hits)
      > Used to overwhelm adversaries with ofuda.  +5 damage
   > Divine Spirit "Fantasy Seal" (4 hits)
      > Used to close in on adversaries with ofuda.  +5 damage
   > Holy Relic "Yin-Yang Demon God Orb" (3 hits)
      > Smite thy enemies with a giant orb.  Surprisingly light lifting.  +6 damage
   > Divine Arts "Omnidirectional Demon-Binding Circle" (5 hits)
      > Used to paralyze adveraries.  +7 damage
      > May also be used outside of battle to temporarily stun adversaries.
   *> Untitled "Flying Mysterious Shrine Maiden" (1 hit)
      > Powerful card that can only be used when you are close to unconsciousness or death.  +10 damage
   *> "Fantasy Nature" (1 hit)
      > Powerful card that can only be used when close to death.  +10 damage
> Tea set
   > You have a lot more of these in your house. 
   > You like leaving them in friends'/acquaintances' houses so you can have tea whenever you like.
> Ofuda x10
   > Multipurpose magic cards you keep for non-danmaku usage
> Broom
   > The shrine broom.  Shut up, Marisa.
> Bag of fried beans
   > You take these with you whenever you go underground, but you wouldn't dare use them on Suika.
> 1265μ
   > It's always a good idea to keep a some money on you.
> Silk Glove x1
   > A soft silk glove with lace on the cuff, clearly a glove of wealth and taste.  Belongs to Yakumo Yukari.
> 4/8 Shard
     > A mysterious bronze shard that gives off a warm glow.  What exactly is it, and where did it come from?  You have no idea.
> Tea Set x1
   > A tea set with red roses painted on it.  The packaging claims that any tea served with this set will have healing properties.  Currently has a large crack on it.
> Bag of marbles x1
   > A bag of magic marbles that can be used to spy on people, as long as you have the largest one with you.
> Jar of Beads x1
   > A jar filled with beads of all shapes, sizes, and colors.
> Inflatable inner tube x1
   > For those who can't swim, or are too lazy to.
> Tea leaves and strainer
> Box of Nostalgia-Inducing Items
   > A box of items from your childhood.  Contains some old dresses, a few dolls, and a music box.
> x3 cookies
     > Chocolate chip cookies, made by Satori.
> Water Charm
   > Given to you by Suwako.  Helps you breathe underwater.
> x1 Roll of Bandages
     > To dress your wounds with.
> Directions to the Tunnel
     > Written directions to a tunnel outside the SDM premises.  Presumably leads underground.  These directions were given to you by Koakuma.
     > Leave the library through the cellar and keep going straight over the fence.  There's a big tree with a covered hole at the base of it, but that's not where you want to go.  Then just keep going straight through the forest for twenty or so minutes until you reach a big moss-covered rock.  After that, take a right and keep going until you've made it to a clearing.  The hole is usually concealed by some grasses but it shouldn't be too hard to find.
> Floriology: The Colorful Language
     > A small book about the language of flowers.  Belongs to Patchouli Knowledge.  You are currently borrowing it from her.
> Rice and Pickled Vegetables
     > Your own cooking

>Wander into an adjoining room.

> You leave the kitchen through a door to the side and enter a small hallway.  There's an ajar door directly to your left.

> _

[Hello Purvis]

>Check the ginger odors.
>Peek through the ajarness.

[日巫子]

>Check the ginger odors.
>Peek through the ajarness.

> It's a bit stronger in this spot.
> You look through the door and see a room with a small coffee table in the center, with some cushions around it.  On the table are a pile of papers, a pack of crayons, and scissors.  There's a potted plant in one corner, some unidentified bush thing with vines trailing onto the floor.  It's got little flowers on it.

> _

[Hello Purvis]

>Open the door. How's the smell in there?

[日巫子]

>Open the door. How's the smell in there?

> You open the door the rest of the way.  The scent's a little stronger than it was in the hall.

> _

[Sect]

> Step inside and look at the papers.

[Hello Purvis]

>And nab the crayons.

[日巫子]

> Step inside and look at the papers.

> You enter the room and approach the table.
> Sitting among the drawing supplies are a pile of papers, but at a closer glance they are actually drawings: four of them.  The first one appears to be some sort of landscape, as is the second one.  You think you have some idea of what they're about, but they look abstract.
> The third and fourth, however, are of people.  At least, you're certain that the last one is a drawing of people.  The third one is even less comprehensible than the previous drawings.
> Whoever drew these is probably the owner of the child's shoes in the foyer.  They look kind of juvenile.

>And nab the crayons.

> Obtained: Pack of Crayons
     > A 12-pack of crayons.  They appear to have been used quite a bit.  Belongs to ? ? ?.

> _