Patchy Quest One More Time: A Z-Machine Adventure

[Hello Purvis]

> If possible, get back to shore.
> Continue to assist Suwako.

>Using Suwako as a compass point and with your sense of direction back intact, you are able to find your way back to shore. As you do, and the world grows less dark, you feel as though a chilly steel weight has been lifted from your chest, and the world seems so much less terrible.
>Assisting Siwako would likely be a good idea, how do you intend to go about it?

>_

[Kasu]

> Hold out Youmu's sword and see if Suwako can reach it.
> Continue talking to her.

[Hello Purvis]

> Hold out Youmu's sword and see if Suwako can reach it.
> Continue talking to her.

>Suwako is too far away to reach anything like that. You might have been able to hand it to her had you gone further in, but who knows what that might have done to you, or incited.
>You continue talking to Suwako, shouting to be heard over the roar of the swarm. Slowly, she begins clawing her way toward you again.

>_

[Fightest]

> While we're assisting Suwako, let's think this through from a crypto-biological standpoint.
> By being in the swarm of bees we've established that they're a central point to the local manifestation of an eldritch abomination.
> Unless it's random, and the deterministic nature of Gensokyo suggests it's not, the form that the eldritch abomination takes, i.e. a swarm of bees, is significant.
> Bees are hive-based insects, with a strongly established social structure, at the top of which presides a Queen of sorts. Furthermore, bees are likely to swarm when their hive is in danger.
> Therefore... Suwako is their hive and/or Queen?
> That doesn't make sense .
> Fine, Suwako is confused, let's stab her with Youmu's short blade, maybe she'll get a few clever ideas. I vote left forearm, that's least likely to incapacitate her. Warn her we're doing so first, before the stabbings.
> Unless anyone else has any clever ideas.

[Serela]

>"Okay Suwako, your about halfway there... it should start getting a little brighter soon, just keep on going!"
>You are suggesting we stab Suwako? wat
>I think the bees are more like attacking Suwako then claiming her as their Queen. She's the one who attacked them back when Jeff saw it in the first place, and there used to be bees around Rumia too, who had also helped.
>And, I mean, when we tried to get near her there was that whole darkness and pain thing, which is what she's been saying this entire time.

[Fightest]

> This voice suspects that the bees will just follow Suwako. Bringing her over here might not help at all.
> Idea! Have we looked at that house in the Underground, back where it all started? Were there any bees there? And have we looked properly for bees there? This voice reckons that if all the bees ever all come into one swarm, the eldritch abomination will manifest. This voice reckons we should make that happen and duke it out with it, fisticuffs-style. This means making several trips back and forth to properly clean up Rumia as well.

[Hello Purvis]

> While we're assisting Suwako, let's think this through from a crypto-biological standpoint.
> By being in the swarm of bees we've established that they're a central point to the local manifestation of an eldritch abomination.
> Unless it's random, and the deterministic nature of Gensokyo suggests it's not, the form that the eldritch abomination takes, i.e. a swarm of bees, is significant.
> Bees are hive-based insects, with a strongly established social structure, at the top of which presides a Queen of sorts. Furthermore, bees are likely to swarm when their hive is in danger.
> Therefore... Suwako is their hive and/or Queen?
> That doesn't make sense .
> Fine, Suwako is confused, let's stab her with Youmu's short blade, maybe she'll get a few clever ideas. I vote left forearm, that's least likely to incapacitate her. Warn her we're doing so first, before the stabbings.
> Unless anyone else has any clever ideas.

>"Okay Suwako, your about halfway there... it should start getting a little brighter soon, just keep on going!"
>You are suggesting we stab Suwako? wat
>I think the bees are more like attacking Suwako then claiming her as their Queen. She's the one who attacked them back when Jeff saw it in the first place, and there used to be bees around Rumia too, who had also helped.
>And, I mean, when we tried to get near her there was that whole darkness and pain thing, which is what she's been saying this entire time.

>You try to apply some logic to the swarm, and are not really able to do so. You suspect, if it is an ideological-based manifestation, it may be because this thing based around conformity. Other possibilities might be pain, wrath, confusion, or possibly the power of many things united as one. Whatever it is, you don't think it's hospitable or well-intentioned at all.
>You consider stabbing Suwako to try and clear some confusion, but you are not certain if the weapon works quite like that.
>You do continue to shout encouragement to Suwako. You aren't certain if she replies, but you swear that she is starting to work her way out from the center of the swarm.

> This voice suspects that the bees will just follow Suwako. Bringing her over here might not help at all.
> Idea! Have we looked at that house in the Underground, back where it all started? Were there any bees there? And have we looked properly for bees there? This voice reckons that if all the bees ever all come into one swarm, the eldritch abomination will manifest. This voice reckons we should make that happen and duke it out with it, fisticuffs-style. This means making several trips back and forth to properly clean up Rumia as well.

>Although it seems Suwako may be extracting herself, it is possibly that may mean nothing.
>You think back to the Abandoned House. You did not explore it thoroughly, but you don't recall seeing any bees in the front room.
>As you recall, Rumia is now bee-free, and frozen in time like everyone else.

>_

[Serela]

>Watch to see if the bees move as Suwako starts coming out of the swarm
>"Okay Suwako, you're starting to come out of the swarm of bees! It should start getting easier soon!"

[Hello Purvis]

>Watch to see if the bees move as Suwako starts coming out of the swarm
>"Okay Suwako, you're starting to come out of the swarm of bees! It should start getting easier soon!"

>The bees motions grow more erratic, you would imagine they'd also get louder but they seem to be at their peak volume as it is.
>You shout encouragement as Suwako drags herself out, inch by inch.
>Finally, she reaches the edge of the swarm, extends a hand outside of it, and collapses again. After a moment, she tenses and weakly flops out of the swarm.
>She rolls away from it, and then stops in mid motion. She seems to be frozen in time.
>The world is growing markedly darker.

>_

[Chaore]

>Well shit.

[Serela]

>...well, at least she isn't in that horrible place anymore. I guess if it works this way, it doesn't matter even if we get someone like Yukari speed back up by bees.
>We conjured up a light a minute ago, right? Is it helping at all with this "world getting darker" thing?
>Brace yourself for... something.

[Hello Purvis]

>Well shit.

>

>...well, at least she isn't in that horrible place anymore. I guess if it works this way, it doesn't matter even if we get someone like Yukari speed back up by bees.
>We conjured up a light a minute ago, right? Is it helping at all with this "world getting darker" thing?
>Brace yourself for... something.

>You did create a light. It does make things immediately around you less dark, but it really isn't doing much against the shadow that seems to be falling over the world in general.
>You hear something that sounds like the earth rumbling, though the ground is still. In the sound, you hear a voice saying "Thank you,"
>The swarm suddenly surges forward! Before you can really react, it flows past you, the horrible droning buzz taking on a high-pitched keening sound, and aims directly for Jeff. "Shit!" he cries. his cloudy form filling with images in bright red. The bees go through him as though he weren't there at all.
>The swarm slows, and hovers over the Moriya shrine. You can't really read its mood at all, but you think it may be confused. You also are starting to see a formed by the swarming bees.

>_



>_

[Chaore]

>Pray to whatever god can help us now.
>Pray to the parser!
>PRAY TO THE KITTAN! D:! SHE GOT US IN THIS MESS!

[UncertainJakutten]

>Oh God they're after Jeff.
>Oh God we were stupid to not realize this
>Oh God I have no idea what to do now!

[Serela]

>Daaamn, this is my fault isn't it?
>Errr, what spellcards are still ready to be used? Rage Trilithon High Level and Metal Fatigue? Fuuuuck.
>RUN FLY FOR YOUR LIFE
>No wait, pray to Kanako for help, THEN fly for your life.

[Chaore]

>You've failed us all kitten!

[Hello Purvis]

>Pray to whatever god can help us now.
>Pray to the parser!
>PRAY TO THE KITTAN! D:! SHE GOT US IN THIS MESS!

>In a show of just how hopeless you feel, you consider praying. Given where you are, perhaps it is appropriate.

>Oh God they're after Jeff.
>Oh God we were stupid to not realize this
>Oh God I have no idea what to do now!

>You panic a little as different conclusions come to you.
>The sky is becoming much more chaotic now, its sludgy and muted colors writhing and forming shapes you cannot put a name to.
>Jeff just floats where he was, stammering, "Wh-wh-wh..."
>The buzzing of the swarm shifts in pitch and tone, you can hear words within it. "Hap-py..."

>Daaamn, this is my fault isn't it?
>Errr, what spellcards are still ready to be used? Rage Trilithon High Level and Metal Fatigue? Fuuuuck.
>RUN FLY FOR YOUR LIFE
>No wait, pray to Kanako for help, THEN fly for your life.

>After considering your meager spellcard selection, you give a desperate prayer to Kanako, and run!
>You fly past the pond, and look back to see that the swarm is indeed starting to give chase. You glimpse the face within the swarm, and swear that it is giving you some sort of grin.

>You've failed us all kitten!

>You decide to blame Chen.

>_

[Serela]

>fuckdamnshitcrap
>Okay, we either need something that can help us defeat cosmic horror bees, or someone who isn't completely frozen. If we're going to end up praying, we can do that AFTER we've exhausted all hope. Any ideas?
>Wait, we can basically teleport around, can't we? Go back to Remi and Youmu. See if the rainbow spot where the Dream Cutlass and Youmu's sword touch is any different. Its the only thing I can think of.

[Kuma]

> Wake up

[Hello Purvis]

>fuckdamnshitcrap
>Okay, we either need something that can help us defeat cosmic horror bees, or someone who isn't completely frozen. If we're going to end up praying, we can do that AFTER we've exhausted all hope. Any ideas?
>Wait, we can basically teleport around, can't we? Go back to Remi and Youmu. See if the rainbow spot where the Dream Cutlass and Youmu's sword touch is any different. Its the only thing I can think of.

>You decide to try to get away as far as you can as fast as you can.
>Returning to the roof, you find that everyone is still as you left them. The mass of rainbow-colored energy is still there, but it is undulating now. It reminds you of heat rising up in the air from warmed-up stone. It is a distinctly different sort of motion from the writhing of rainbow sky.

>_

[Serela]

>Inventory
>See if you can ladle up any of the rainbow energy with the ladle. If not, ponder if there is anything else that could possible contain or channel it.
>If not, slash at the rainbow energy with Youmu's shorter sword.

[Hello Purvis]

>Inventory
>See if you can ladle up any of the rainbow energy with the ladle. If not, ponder if there is anything else that could possible contain or channel it.
>If not, slash at the rainbow energy with Youmu's shorter sword.

>Your Inventory contains:
>Suspiciously Sleepwear-Like Witch Gown (worn as clothes)
>Witch Cap (Worn as Hat)
>Metal Sign: Metal Fatigue
>Ballpoint Pen
>Pad of Paper
>Earth Sign: Rage Trilithon (Used)
>Fire & Earth Sign: Lava Cromlech (used)
>Fire Sign: Agni Shine (Used)
>Fire Sign: Agni Shine High Level (used)
>Wood Sign: Sylphae Horn High Level (used)
>Earth Sign: Rage Trilithon High Level
>Earth Sign: Trilithon Shake (used)
>Metal Sign: Silver Dragon
>Wood and Fire Sign: Forest Blaze (used)
>Wood and Water Sign: Water Elf  (Used)
>Earth and Metal Sign: Emerald Megalith (used)
>Moon Sign: Silent Selene (used)
>Lucky Coin
>Banson's Aria
>AOL Disk with a Cardboard Sleeve
>Ladle
>Floating Trumpet
>Half of a Grilled Lamprey Sandwich
>Tiger Cub Pin (wore as accessory)
>Explosion Sign: Mega Flare (Used)
>Electric Train Set
>Wheel
>Shoddy Drawing
>Ruined Hat
>Doughnut
>Box
>Butterfly Fan
>Book Entitled: The Jungle by Upton Sinclair
>Sun Sign: Mega Flare (used)
>Sun Sign: Royal Flare (used)
>Pair of Black Glasses
>Horribly Out of Date Map of Gensokyo
>Double Handful of Charred Legos of Fuckwin
>Mona Patchy, by Flandre Age 501
>Locked Girl ~ The Girl's Secret Room
>Youmu's Short Blade.
>Rumia's Ribbon
>Book Entitled: Monday Magic by Patchouli Knowledge: 1500☼
>Silver Medal (Unpaid, Equipped as Accessory)

>You try to ladle up some of the rainbow energy from the mass, and find that it doesn't seem to work. You also note that your ladle disappears into it entirely, and does not emerge from the other side.
>You cannot think of anything that you could do to channel the energy with the items that you have. This is further compounded by the fact you don't know what the energy actually is.
>You pause to consider slashing it, in light of your recent findings.
>Jeff appears near you. He's not speaking exactly, but the images flashing across him suggest that he is quite panicked.

>_

[Kuma]

> Try going into the rainbow energy, bring jeff with you.

[Serela]

>Wait... did we just lose our ladle? Gosh darnit. Try poking the energy with a charred lego and see if you can pull it back out, and if its still whole afterwards.
>"Jeff... any ideas on what we can do now? I'd at least try fighting it, but I only have two unused spellcards right now..."

> Try going into the rainbow energy, bring jeff with you.

>Unless we can get a previously mentioned lego back out, this might simply be suicide. We really don't know. If the lego DOES come back out though, maybe we should at least just start with sticking our face in and looking around.

[Hello Purvis]

> Try going into the rainbow energy, bring jeff with you.

>You consider this. "Uh, okay," says Jeff. "But cut the line, first!"

>Wait... did we just lose our ladle? Gosh darnit. Try poking the energy with a charred lego and see if you can pull it back out, and if its still whole afterwards.
>"Jeff... any ideas on what we can do now? I'd at least try fighting it, but I only have two unused spellcards right now..."
>Unless we can get a previously mentioned lego back out, this might simply be suicide. We really don't know. If the lego DOES come back out though, maybe we should at least just start with sticking our face in and looking around.

>You did not lose your ladle, it just did not emerge from the other side of the mass as one might expect.
>You poke the mass with a Charred Lego of Fuckwin, and do not see any kind of damage to it.
>"Uh...um...Not really," he says at length. "Running's good. I can run. But, uh...maybe we ought to try something to make that stuff coming from the sword less agitated if we're going to go through it. Life's taught me that crazy swirly stuff isn't good to go through."

>_

[Seian Verian]

> Bring hand close to energy
> If no unpleasant effects are felt, lightly poke
> Is our finger bleeding or otherwise injured?
> If not, stick head through

[Hello Purvis]

> Bring hand close to energy
> If no unpleasant effects are felt, lightly poke
> Is our finger bleeding or otherwise injured?
> If not, stick head through

>You draw your hand near, and don't feel anything unpleasant. You place your hand on it,and find it is somewhat tingly, and have a consistency that makes you think of cotton; which you did not feel when you probed it with the ladle. It also resists your hand significantly more than it did the objects, but you feel your hand sink in a little bit. With a little pressure you could force it in.

>_

[Kuma]

> Cut the line connecting us to Jeff

[Hello Purvis]

> Cut the line connecting us to Jeff

>You slash through the filament connecting you to Jeff with Youmu's Short Blade. There is a sound like distant glass shattering as the whole filament falls away from you and vanishes.
>Jeff groans.

>_

[Serela]

>"Jeff, your okay, right? I don't really know what effects cutting that filament might have had."
>Try pushing your hand into the energy.
>If that goes fine, take out your hand and push your head in, look around.