Face, meet fist. This is Akyu Quest!

[MysTeariousYukari]

> "So I get to be a battle-buddy. Sounds good."
> Are we capable of  using Spell Cards(eventually) and lacking in training, or do we lack the ability to every use them?

[Fightest]

> For the purposes of Akyu Quest, you are flat-out unable to develop and use Spell Cards. That, however, does not preclude shattering or hijacking Spell Cards as they are used.
> "Awesome, sweet to have you with us, honorary fairy sister! Now, about that mansion..."
> Cirno pauses.
> "Actually, I have no idea. Great Fairy was the one who always had the clever plans, and she's out for the count. You're all sorts of smart, though, aintcha? Whaddaya think?"

[Demonbman]

>Suggest that we surround the mansion, and Charge at it from all sides in 3 distinct waves.
 
Weakest first
Strongest Second
Middle Last
 
This way it will catch them off guard.
 
In between the 1st and 2nd waves we (Cirno, Great Fairy, Akyu) will charge into einitei for a fierce battle!

[Fightest]

> "We-e-ll... I don't think the three of us are enough to take the Bamboo Forest weirdoes by usselves. Also we'd have to wait until Great Fairy recovers. Also I don't think the mansion maids will listen to these guys," Cirno gestures at the fairy mob, "I prolly haveta be there myself."
> Cirno draws herself up.
> "I have a lot of clout amongst the fairies, if I say so meself."

[Hello Purvis]

>"Before we can even begin to plan any of this, I will need to know several things. Firstly, I need to know about those maids. Their relation to you, their relation to the Scarlet Family, and their loyalty to both. Also, I need to know if the Scarlets, or any of their servants, are involved in this competition. I presume that the members of Eientei are involved? Simply put, even with numbers on our side, any one of these people are powerful opponents capable of cleaning many of our clocks without much effort. We cannot ignore even the least of them if they are involved."

[MysTeariousYukari]

> "Looking back at fights that have happened in the past involving the Scarlets, their leader is most likly the infamous Scarlet Devil. Let's say she's at the mansion now, waiting for someone to attack or something. We charge in, she could take everyone of us down in a fair 1-1 fight, most of us stronger fairies and myself would probly have to fight her at the same time. Even then it will be hard."
> "All or nothing, Heaven or Hell, Lets rock!"

[Hello Purvis]

>What do we know about the SDM layout, or the Eientei Layout for that matter?
>Ponder the possibility of visiting SDM as a guest, and making contact with the maids ahead of time, arranging for them to sneak away.

[Fightest]

> "They's just browbeaten into servitude. The fairies over at the mansion ain't get no respect for their work, no pay, no nuttin'!"
> Cirno folds her arms and cocks her head.
> "Well, I s'pose they get food and acc-com-mo-day-shun for free... Still! They'll come over to our side when they see how awesome it is with us!"
> "Oh, yeah! I shoulda said this sooner! Some of the fairies saw that red vampire lady leave with her maid and little sister. Apparently they were headin' towards the mountains. That was, like, just a bit ago, so she won't be back for some time! Dunno about the rest of 'em, wasn't paying attention to their names on the 'boards, though the gate guard is a competitor for certain, and still there at the mansion. Just as well, hey? More points for us!"

> You've visited both places once - the SDM for a good-will tour, and Eientei during the Lunarian exhibition they did some time ago. Of course, that means you know their layouts perfectly, unless they had hidden passages.

> As a guest, you would be under constant supervision, and in very limited contact with the maids. Such an arrangement would be difficult indeed.

[Hello Purvis]

>"If they're gone, that will solve the very worst of the problems. But that would leave the gate guard, the head maid, the librarian and her familiar, who are all formidable on their own. Do you have a way to contact the faeries discreetly?"
>Ponder if looking into details of the tournament might be a good enough reason to get into the mansion without any trouble, parleying low rank into not being worth the trouble of actually fighting.

[Fightest]

> "Oh, yeah! I shoulda said this sooner! Some of the fairies saw that red vampire lady leave with her maid and little sister. [...]"

> Bolded for emphasis. It's only, as far as you know, the gate guard, the librarian and the familiar.

> "Nah, can't get to the fairies inside without getting attacked by the gate guard or summin'. Anyway, look at this mob, they's itching for a fight! If I stall any longer, they're gonna go rabid!"

[Hello Purvis]

>"That is a point. But this is going to be only the first of many battles. We need to approach this in such a way that we can most effectively use our strength. I may have a plan. But first, tell me what your people are capable of. I've heard stories of a faerie who can make things invisible?"
>Ponder how good the gate guard is at actually guarding while Cirno. And how distractable she is.

[theshirn]

> Consider punching Cirno in the face to establish superiority

[MysTeariousYukari]

> "Ok then. Heaven or Hell, lets rock! We can rush the place and catch them off guard, but we will need a plan. I've been their before so I could find my way around, and likly lead some of you around. But once again, a plan is absolutly needed."

[Hello Purvis]

> "Ok then. Heaven or Hell, lets rock! We can rush the place and catch them off guard, but we will need a plan. I've been their before so I could find my way around, and likly lead some of you around. But once again, a plan is absolutly needed."

Rushing the place is exactly the worst idea. When your big advantage is numbers, you gotta use 'em right.  =[

[Fightest]

> Cirno sighs.
> "I was afraid you'd ask about 'em. Those three just can't sit still, yanno? I told'em to be here, but, well... they ain't. I've got some fairies looking for 'em, but we can't lose much time.
> The gatekeeper - as far as guarding is concerned - is pretty competent. She's very enthusiastic about her position, though nobody really understands why, and she's pretty strong, which is enough to keep most potential intruders at bay. She does tend to get carried away with her daydreams, especially if she's been exposed to external influence.

> Consider punching Cirno in the face to establish superiority

> Fairies are very susceptible to a show of force, so defeating Cirno to vie for dominance is a valid plan.

[Hello Purvis]

>"Alright, so you have no one with any special talents, aside from yourself?"
>Are there any alarms or guard spells around the wall; presumable this would be something we'd ask about during the visit, or is it all Meiling keeping a lookout?
>Plan comes together~

[Fightest]

>"Alright, so you have no one with any special talents, aside from yourself?"
>Are there any alarms or guard spells around the wall; presumable this would be something we'd ask about during the visit, or is it all Meiling keeping a lookout?
>Plan comes together~

> "'S what it comes down to, yeah." She shrugs.
> As far as you've been told, it's all Meiling. It's no wonder she always looks so hassled, really. A more closely-kept secret that everyone seems to know these days, however, are the wards and spells around the library wing, which cover that area of the mansion exclusively. They are maintained by the magician youkai who resides there, who is very protective of her territory.

[Hello Purvis]

>Ponder the possibility of distracting Meiling, getting some faeries over those walls, and not triggering the wards. That is, an angle they could approach from that isn't close to the library or Meiling.

>_

[Fightest]

> You reckon it's totally doable. The mansion is large, and there are plenty of entrances that are clear of Meiling and the library.

[Hello Purvis]

>"I have a plan."
>If there is bare dirt available, sketch a rough map of the mansion. "I propose that I distract the gatekeeper, here-" make a mark at the right spot, "While you send over a few of your best people here.-" Mark the appropriate spot on the wall. "And enter the mansion here-" mark the appropriate door. "The goal of your people will be the make contact with the maids, and assure they are on our side. They can also be prepare themselves as needs be. From there, you can try to sneak them out the way that you came in, or if you feel it necessary for morale, attack."
>Look to Cirno. "If you do choose to attack, I should stress that you must go out of your way not to damage anything, or loot anything. The Scarlets can nurse a grudge like a fine wine, and have no problem with getting back at someone long after the offense has passed. Frankly, we all have to sleep sometime. As well, depending on the nature of the distraction I provide, I may not be able to help raid Scarlet Devil Manor. But in turn, I will be better prepared for Eientei. Do you think this will work?"

>_

[Fightest]

> Cirno hums and haws, looking at the diagram. Then she grins, and punches you lightly in the shoulder.
> "I totally knew it, you are all sorts of smart! Smarter'n Great Fairy, even! So I go with a small team through the back while you got the gatekeeper distracted, and rally the fairies to our cause, right? How will you know when to stop the distracting?"

[Mr_Bob]

>If the fairy masses begin to look like they are getting too rowdy, organize group calithenics, stretching, and free sparring. Work off that aggression.

[Hello Purvis]

>"That depends. If you decide to attack, then when the fireworks begin, I should be able to figure it out quickly enough. If you pull it all off quietly, well, have a few of people fly past under the guise of playing a loud game of tag? I'll withdraw myself at earliest convenience then."
>"Which will you be doing?"

[Fightest]

> Cirno scrunches her face up in thought.
> "Oh, right, before that, though, lemme properly introduce you to everyone!"
> Cirno gets up and shouts at the mob of fairies.
> "Hey, everyone! This here girl's an honorary fairy now, you got that! She's one of us, and she's hella strong! She's who beat up Great Fairy, yanno?"
> A whole bunch of confused looks pass along the crowd of fairies, then they all start to cheer and whoop.
> You get the feeling that they'll cheer at anything if it's said in the right way.

>If the fairy masses begin to look like they are getting too rowdy, organize group calithenics, stretching, and free sparring. Work off that aggression.

> "Huh, you reckon that'll help? Okay!" Cirno gives you a thumbs-up. A few minutes later, the mob of fairies has been separated into groups, doing all sorts of physical exercise. They seem less rowdy than before.

>"That depends. If you decide to attack, then when the fireworks begin, I should be able to figure it out quickly enough. If you pull it all off quietly, well, have a few of people fly past under the guise of playing a loud game of tag? I'll withdraw myself at earliest convenience then."
>"Which will you be doing?"

> "Well...the plan was to get the army together first, then beat everyone up. We need everyone we have to get through all those rabbits they have in the Bamboo Forest."
> Cirno looks a bit disappointed at the prospect of no fighting.
> "We'll do it your quiet way. Don't wanna that magician to open up flak on us when we're leaving."

[Hello Purvis]

>Wave and take a bow to the faeries, before getting back to business.
>"That's good. Fewer people with a burning desire to beat us up will make life much easier in the long run. And the more faeries we have in top condition to deal with the Lunarians, the better."
>"I think we have it all just about wrapped up, then?"
>If so, begin to enact the plan; let Cirno choose the people she thinks is best for the task, and head for SDM. Approach the SMD gates alone.
>Contemplate what we know of Meiling's background, for more distractions after the initial distraction is over.

[Mr_Bob]

>Would wanting to learn more about Tai-chi (for purely educational purposes, of course)  work as a suitable distraction?
>If she already knows we're in the tournament we may have to beg for her to teach us (for purely self-defense, of course).

[Hello Purvis]

>Would wanting to learn more about Tai-chi (for purely educational purposes, of course)  work as a suitable distraction?
>If she already knows we're in the tournament we may have to beg for her to teach us (for purely self-defense, of course).

>Exactly the plan for the first line of distractions. History and the like is second line.

[Fightest]

> "Okay, hold up, lemme get ready meself."
> Cirno places her palms together, and slowly draws them apart, a gleaming icicle growing between them, slowly taking form and eventually growing into a long, sword-like shape. She weighs it in her hand, then reaches behind her back and releases the icicle, where it seems to hang in mid-air. She repeats this four more times, each icicle taking a different shape of weapon, all floating in a symmetrical radial pattern behind her back.
> Finally, she kneels down, and carefully places her hand over the diagram you made in the dirt. A light mist starts to form around her hand as the ground begins to freeze. Soon the patch of dirt with the diagram is encased in ice. Cirno yanks it out of the ground, falling over in the process. The diagram seems to have been preserved pretty well. She lets it hang just behind her back as well, just over her left shoulder.
> She flashes you a thumbs-up and a cocky grin.
> "I'll gather the team, you head on over, I'll have someone watching you. We'll go when the gatekeeper looks distracted enough."
> She looks at the fairies, who are in the middle of practicing throws. "Hey, New Kid! You're up!"
> The fairy known as New Kid rushes up and salutes, a furiously serious expression on her face.
> "New Kid here will be watching you. You got that, New Kid?"
> The fairy salutes again. Cirno nods and runs off.

> You approach the SDM gates. In the morning light, the mansion is suprisingly inviting, bright flowers blooming around the red brick walls, vibrant green vines climbing up the walls, giving the whole place a very organic feel. The gatekeeper spotted you as you began your approach, and is now standing in front of the gates, arms crossed, green dress shifting in the gentle breeze, waiting for you to come within hailing distance.
> Despite her commonly being a whipping-boy for the fickle mistress of the mansion and the head maid, along with her lowly position as gateguard, Hong Meiling is quite a powerful youkai. Nobody knows her age, but she is known to possess knowledge of several human martial arts, which she wields with a strong degree of mastery. Being so interested in the fighting arts, Meiling is an avid reader of comics provided by Rinnosuke Morichika, usually Eastern manga for young men, always chock-full of hot-blooded action. Her recent obsession are Western superhero comics, which she has racked up a huge debt at Kourindou for. She loves to daydream, and tends to get carried away into comic-book related fantasies, sometimes having trouble telling fantasy from reality. She always shows great enthusiasm for her duties. She has trouble picking out her favourite colour, and she likes the smell of roses in the morning after a light rain.

>Would wanting to learn more about Tai-chi (for purely educational purposes, of course)  work as a suitable distraction?
>If she already knows we're in the tournament we may have to beg for her to teach us (for purely self-defense, of course).

> It's certainly possible, though you've never heard of Meiling teaching her techniques to anyone before. Maybe nobody's ever asked?

[Hello Purvis]

>Approach normally!
>"Good morning, Meiling, may I have a moment of your time?"
>Presuming she agrees. "I presume you are aware of that tournament thing that has happened recently?"

[Fightest]

> "A moment? I'll give you half. Time is money, you realise, and you know what they say, "a penny saved is a penny earned.""
> Meiling waves her hand casually.
> "Bullshit, by the way, I got where I am by spending money, and nobody can touch me. You got that?"
> Meiling points towards you.
> "It's a spender's world out there, long as they speak the lingo, am I right?"
> She grins and pats you on the shoulder.
> Meiling gets paid peanuts, everyone knows that.
> "Tournament? Buncha crap if you ask me, all a publicity stunt for the losers who can't make a name of themselves. Everyone knows and loves me, it's just who I am, so I don't need their bullshit. Still, love a good fight every now and then, so don't say no, that's my motto!"
> Meiling isn't that well known, and is usually called "China" in a derogatory manner by those who do know her.