Ran Quest: A Z-Machine Sidestory

[Hello Purvis]

>Add new sidequest "Test Quantum Mechanical Theory with Chen and a Box"

>Yukari put Chen in a box one afternoon while you were out shopping. It took an half an hour to get her to calm down.

>Wait... does that mean surface youkai are still banned from down here? Crap.
>Probably still worth checking with someone more in the know, though.
>"I think I remember hearing that there's a city down here? Which way would that be?"

>You think that it's considered an antiquated law now.
>"Just follow the floor til it turns into bridge, and there you are," says Kisume. "Thought you were looking for geysers and Yukari, though?"

>_

[E-Nazrin]

>"She's wandering around a lot, and rather sporadically. If she wanders into the city or to the geysers, I'd like to know a little bit first."
>thank Kisume and head for the bridge

[UncertainJakutten]

>Elaborate on the Yukari Chen Box event.

[Hello Purvis]

>"She's wandering around a lot, and rather sporadically. If she wanders into the city or to the geysers, I'd like to know a little bit first."
>thank Kisume and head for the bridge

>You make your way down through the caverns, following the youkai's rather odd advice of following the floor. After awhile, you can see why she specified it; there are a few tunnels that open in the ceiling; mostly concealed by the shadows and stalactites.
>After some time, you come to a long, wooden bridge running over a wide subterranean river. Up ahead, you can see the gates of a city. It seems rather noisy in that direction. Obvious exits are North and South.

>Elaborate on the Yukari Chen Box event.

>There is not much to elaborate on. Yukari put Chen in a box while you were gone, and Chen did not enjoy it at all.

>_

[E-Nazrin]

>carefully approach/start crossing the bridge: There might be something there...

[Hello Purvis]

>carefully approach/start crossing the bridge: There might be something there...

>You start to cross the bridge carefully. No misfortune seems to befall you.
>You reach the other side with no issues. But there is quite a lot of shouting going on in the city.

>_

[E-Nazrin]

>observe!

[MysTeariousYukari]

> Observe the situation and ask a few people what the commotion is.
> Ponder if this commotion is normal.

[Hello Purvis]

>observe!

>You look through the gates, and quickly deduce there is a full scale riot going on inside the city.

>_

[E-Nazrin]

>Well that's not good.
>Any indication of what the riot's about? What are the rioters, all oni?

[Hello Purvis]

>Well that's not good.
>Any indication of what the riot's about? What are the rioters, all oni?

>It will certainly make things difficult.
>You have no idea why they are rioting. But you are certain everyone that you can see being involved are oni.

>_

[MysTeariousYukari]

> Ask someone whats going on. We need info.

[Hello Purvis]

> Ask someone whats going on. We need info.

>You call out to the oni.
>You quickly conclude that if they could hear you, they likely wouldn't care to answer. They seem far more interested in punching each other and hitting each other with boards and various debris than conversing. You suspect they would likely induct you into the activities.

[E-Nazrin]

>is there any convenient way to get around the rioting areas and try to find someone staying out of it for an explanation?

[Hello Purvis]

>is there any convenient way to get around the rioting areas and try to find someone staying out of it for an explanation?

>You could try to fly; but there are some rioters in the air as well. In the end, you don't think any approach will guarantee your safety or non-participation in the riot.

>_

[E-Nazrin]

>is the outer edge of the city itself an option? Anything nearer the bridge that might be informative?

[Hello Purvis]

>is the outer edge of the city itself an option? Anything nearer the bridge that might be informative?

>The outer edge of the seems to be made of cavern wall, so it does not strike you as a viable option.
>You don't find much around the bridge that is informative, but in looking around, you notice a small house underneath the bridge, on the bank opposite the city.

>_

[E-Nazrin]

>Worth a shot. Head down to check out the house.

[Hello Purvis]

>Worth a shot. Head down to check out the house.

>You approach the house. As you do, the front door opens, and a blonde-haired youkai pokes her head out, looking at you with narrowed eyes.
>"Hey!" She says, "What do you think you're doing down here?"

>_

[MysTeariousYukari]

> "I was hoping I could ask someone, just what exactly is going on over their?" *point towards the chaos in the town* "I'm trying to find someone who could be anywhere right now, and my best bet is somewhere past all those Oni. Could you please tell me what is going and how I can by all of them without them attacking me, they seem angry..."

[Hello Purvis]

> "I was hoping I could ask someone, just what exactly is going on over their?" *point towards the chaos in the town* "I'm trying to find someone who could be anywhere right now, and my best bet is somewhere past all those Oni. Could you please tell me what is going and how I can by all of them without them attacking me, they seem angry..."

>"You want to get over there?" The blonde youkai puts a hand to her mouth and giggles. "You're out of luck, then. They'll be at it for the rest of today and maybe a good bit of tomorrow."

>_

[E-Nazrin]

>"What exactly do you mean by 'it,' the... riot, I want to call it? And why are they doing that, anyway?"

[Hello Purvis]

>"What exactly do you mean by 'it,' the... riot, I want to call it? And why are they doing that, anyway?"

"Yeah, riot's a good name for it. " says the blonde youkai. "And I dunno why they do it, just comes up every so many months or years. But if they made sense they wouldn't be oni, would they?"

>_

[E-Nazrin]

>"I suppose not. I guess I don't need to get involved, anyway; I mostly want to know where the geysers aboveground are, and whether Yukari's been here."
>describe Yukari

[Hello Purvis]

>"I suppose not. I guess I don't need to get involved, anyway; I mostly want to know where the geysers aboveground are, and whether Yukari's been here."
>describe Yukari

>"Why are you down here if you're looking for geysers aboveground?" asks the youkai, giving you a look. "Nobody down here bothers with that place."
>You describe Yukari. "Not seen anyone like that," says Parsee. "But I stay indoors when the oni get into one of their riots. It's just easier that way."

>_

[E-Nazrin]

>"Hmm. Seeing as this is the only place I know of that's relevant to how the geysers were found... well, I guess it answers my question anyway. Unless you know anyone in particular that would know regardless?"

[Hello Purvis]

>"Hmm. Seeing as this is the only place I know of that's relevant to how the geysers were found... well, I guess it answers my question anyway. Unless you know anyone in particular that would know regardless?"

>"Not really," says the youkai. "People down here don't care about the surface very much. Okay, maybe they're kinda curious these days, but I doubt they know much."

>_

[E-Nazrin]

>nod
>"Alright. I guess I'll have to look for them myself. Thank you very much, miss... er..."

[Hello Purvis]

>nod
>"Alright. I guess I'll have to look for them myself. Thank you very much, miss... er..."

>"Parsee," says the youkai. She frowns. "Um, good luck, I suppose? Oh! Watch out for the one in the bucket if you haven't seen her. She's kinda a mugger."

>_

[E-Nazrin]

>"... mugger? Really is still dangerous down here, isn't it. Alright, I'll be careful if I see her again. Thanks again, Parsee."
>head back aboveground, that was a wash!