Ran Quest: A Z-Machine Sidestory

[Kasu]

> "I see.   How are the other areas of the mansion fairing?"

[Hello Purvis]

> "I see.   How are the other areas of the mansion fairing?"

>"I've not been able to get away and find out," says Sakuya, watching as more mice stream in. "I imagine the Young Mistress is safe, she should be sleeping right now, and the basement is quite secure. As for the rest, I don't know. I've been trying to keep the pantry safe; I can't  imagine they would be focusing as much attention elsewhere."

>_

[MysTeariousYukari]

> "Well, she seems to be after an object of sorts, something rare, possibly one-of-a-kind, and with all these mice here, I bet she's somewhere within the mansion looking for... whatever the object is."

[Hello Purvis]

> "Well, she seems to be after an object of sorts, something rare, possibly one-of-a-kind, and with all these mice here, I bet she's somewhere within the mansion looking for... whatever the object is."

>"We do have our share of unique things," says Sakuya, "Be a dear and go knock  the consciousness out of her, then knock sense into her?"

>_

[MysTeariousYukari]

> "Will do, but as is, she may have to take the object shes after if this situation is going to end soon without any more mice problems."
> "Where are some of these unique items kept, because she is likly heading for them to get what she's after."

[Hello Purvis]

> "Will do, but as is, she may have to take the object shes after if this situation is going to end soon without any more mice problems."
> "Where are some of these unique items kept, because she is likly heading for them to get what she's after."

>"We have a couple galleries in this wing, and one in the South Wing," says Sakuya. "And quite frankly, she and her mice can rot in hell before I let her have anything!"

>_

[E-Nazrin]

>"At the very least she could stand to learn not to make such an invasive investigation..."
>decide against sharing what Nazrin's looking for for the moment, tempers need to cool
>thank Sakuya, head out to find those galleries and look around for any lantern/solid-colored toys in the area

[Hello Purvis]

>"At the very least she could stand to learn not to make such an invasive investigation..."
>decide against sharing what Nazrin's looking for for the moment, tempers need to cool
>thank Sakuya, head out to find those galleries and look around for any lantern/solid-colored toys in the area

>"Quite," Sakuya agrees.
>You decide to keep the specifics of Nazrin's search to yourself.
>"The hand is appreciated," Sakuya says, as you bid her goodbye, then depart.
>You are pretty sure you know where the two South Wing galleries are, you passed two sets of double doors along the way.

>_

[Kasu]

> Head for the first set of double doors.

[Hello Purvis]

> Head for the first set of double doors.

>You make your way toward the nearest set of double doors, dodging around a few scurrying mice.  Opening them, you find an expansive gallery with a high ceiling, filled with tastefully displayed artworks of all sorts. Paintings, statues, and craft works of all kinds line the walls and rest upon podiums positioned wherever there is space. Large stained glass windows set fairly high in the walls allow natural light to brighten the place. There are no mice here that you can see, but you do see a small youkai with mouse ears near the far right corner. Obvious exits are South
>The youkai looks toward you as you enter. "Eep," she says.

>_

[Kasu]

> "Well that was easy."

[Hello Purvis]

>"Back off!" says the mouse youkai, "I will ruin these paintings so bad! You don't even know!"

>_

[E-Nazrin]

>"Nazrin, you could have been more subtle about searching for that lamp and toys I've heard about from Hijiri's followers."

[Kasu]

> "Well I don't exactly live here, and either way I was told by Murasa that you would be around here."

[Hello Purvis]

>"Nazrin, you could have been more subtle about searching for that lamp and toys I've heard about from Hijiri's followers."

>"Wait," Nazrin narrows her eyes. "how do you know my name?"

> "Well I don't exactly live here, and either way I was told by Murasa that you would be around here."

>Her eyes widen. "You were on the ship?" she grins. "Great! Go cause a distraction or something, I think I've found it! I just gotta be sure they haven't booby trapped it."

>_

[E-Nazrin]

>wonder whether the Scarlets would have considered trading for such a thing if Nazrin hadn't been a dick about trying to get it
>"Where is 'it,' exactly? And what, the lamp or one of those toys?"
>"... and what do the 'toys' look like, anyway? Murasa said you were the one that's actually seen them."

[Hello Purvis]

>wonder whether the Scarlets would have considered trading for such a thing if Nazrin hadn't been a dick about trying to get it
>"Where is 'it,' exactly? And what, the lamp or one of those toys?"
>"... and what do the 'toys' look like, anyway? Murasa said you were the one that's actually seen them."

>You don't know. There are times when they can be legendarily greedy or tightfisted, but you don't know if anyone has ever tried to purchase something from their galleries.
>She points to a simple-looking lamp sitting on a podium.
>"I saw them as toy birds," says Nazrin. "I think it's different for different people. Hey, should we be talking about this here?"

>_

[Seian Verian]

> "...That's it? Really?"
> "And no, we probably shouldn't be stopping to talk here. Of course, we also shouldn't be turning the Scarlet Devil Mansion into our enemies, but for now, that seems to be what's happening. Or you are. I could claim to have fought you and then you got away."
> Feel amazed at how we got into this situation.

[Hello Purvis]

> "...That's it? Really?"
> "And no, we probably shouldn't be stopping to talk here. Of course, we also shouldn't be turning the Scarlet Devil Mansion into our enemies, but for now, that seems to be what's happening. Or you are. I could claim to have fought you and then you got away."
> Feel amazed at how we got into this situation.

>"Taking a fall for me isn't gonna help much at this point," says Nazrin. "Besides, if I played my cards right, they don't even know-"
>You hear the sound of a gap opening.
>"-Who the hell?" Nazrin finishes, grimacing.

>_

[Seian Verian]

> "...I shouldn't even be surprised at this point."
> Turn toward the gap.
> "Hello Yukari."

[Hello Purvis]

> "...I shouldn't even be surprised at this point."
> Turn toward the gap.
> "Hello Yukari."

>You turn around, and see Yukari, more or less as she was last time, before she shambles past you.
>"Found y'lamp," she mumbles, extending an empty hand toward Nazrin.
>"Um...uh..." says Nazrin. "...hey, are you asleep or something? Wake up!"

>_

[Seian Verian]

> Interrupt Nazrin.
> "Yes, she is asleep. No, you don't want to be near her if she's startled when woken, given her level of power."
> Look toward Yukari again.
> "Could you tell me what you're doing? Or can you even hear me?"

[Hello Purvis]

> Interrupt Nazrin.
> "Yes, she is asleep. No, you don't want to be near her if she's startled when woken, given her level of power."
> Look toward Yukari again.
> "Could you tell me what you're doing? Or can you even hear me?"

>"Uh, okay?" says Nazrin, grimacing and backing away from the two of you.
>"Raaaan?" Yukari says, lolling her head somewhat in your direction. "Whacha doin here, follow's me?"

>_

[Seian Verian]

> "It's a bit closer to attempting to search and then you come out of nowhere to meet me. But I suppose you could call it following if you wished. Are you sure you don't want to go home and lie down?"

[Hello Purvis]

> "It's a bit closer to attempting to search and then you come out of nowhere to meet me. But I suppose you could call it following if you wished. Are you sure you don't want to go home and lie down?"

>"Heeee," Yukari says. Then she sways, and starts to lose her balance.

>_

[Kasu]

> Catch her.
> Pray to some God that she doesn't startle herself awake.

[Hello Purvis]

> Catch her.
> Pray to some God that she doesn't startle herself awake.

>You move to catch Yukari, praying to the first deity that comes to mind; Shizuha.
>It's not hard to catch her, and thankfully she falls softly enough that it doesn't seem to jar her awake. "Stop tiltin' th' world," Yukari mutters, as she snuggles up against you, "s'cheatin'"
>As you secure Yukari, you notice Nazrin hooking the jeweled pagoda with one of her dowsing rods. "Yoink!" she says with a grin.

>_

[Seian Verian]

> "Come on. Let's go home."
> Begin guiding Yukari out of the mansion.

[Hello Purvis]

> "Come on. Let's go home."
> Begin guiding Yukari out of the mansion.

>You suggest that the two of you go home. You're not sure if counts as an answer, but you feel the world fall out from under you, and the gallery is replaced by strange energies and monstrous, staring eyes.
>.A moment later, the two of you stumble from a gap into someplace dark. You feel bare earth crunching beneath your feet.

>_

[Kasu]

> "Crap."
> Try to light the place up with a bit of danmaku.