Reimu Quest (Part 4)

[日巫子]

> Pat the li'l oni on the head with a smirk.
> "I know exactly where I am. Sorta. It's just that Sanae isn't where she outta be: somewhere I can find her. Is... Kikuri around? I heard she was with Sanae."

> You pat Konngara on the head, she just kind of puts her hands on her face and scowls.
> "I think..."  Kasen turns to Konngara.  "Do you know her?"
> Konngara shakes her head.  Kasen looks up at you with a furrowed brow, and you are thoroughly reminded of the judgmental stare that the Kasen you're familiar with gives you.

> _

[Sect]

> Huh. Guess this isn't her shrine after all.
> Cooly ignore judgemental stare: if big Kasen can't judge us, neither can little Kasen. "I see. Well, it's getting late, so you kids better head back to your homes. And make sure your brooms are all put away: that's an important tool for a shrine maiden." Give Konngara a significant look at that.

[日巫子]

> Huh. Guess this isn't her shrine after all.
> Cooly ignore judgemental stare: if big Kasen can't judge us, neither can little Kasen. "I see. Well, it's getting late, so you kids better head back to your homes. And make sure your brooms are all put away: that's an important tool for a shrine maiden." Give Konngara a significant look at that.

> Were you mistaken?
> You ignore Kasen's stare with ease.  She keeps it up for a few more seconds before letting it go.
> "But...Kikuri's probably nearby so it's okay...." Konngara mumbles.  At the mention of the broom, she sighs and looks back in the direction of the shrine.
> "We'll go inside once it's completely dark," Kasen assures you.

> _

[Sect]

Ah, I see, I misunderstood what Kasen said.

> Oh, good, they DO know Kikuri. "It's your choice: don't blame me if you two get gobbled up." Smile to let them know we're joking. Sorta.
> "So Kikuri's nearby? At the shrine?"

[日巫子]

> Oh, good, they DO know Kikuri. "It's your choice: don't blame me if you two get gobbled up." Smile to let them know we're joking. Sorta.
> "So Kikuri's nearby? At the shrine?"

> "We won't!  We're strong," Kasen says, grinning back.
> You ask if Kikuri is at the shrine.  Konngara nods and then shrugs.

> _

[Sect]

> "All right. Thanks."
> Pat Konngara on the head one more time, for good measure, then head back to the shrine.
> Before entering the shrine, pick up that broom and find a good place to put it away.

[日巫子]

> "All right. Thanks."
> Pat Konngara on the head one more time, for good measure, then head back to the shrine.
> Before entering the shrine, pick up that broom and find a good place to put it away.

> You take your leave, making sure to pat Konngara's head one more time before you make your way back to the shrine.  As soon as you're out of eyesight of the two girls, you hear them start to talk fervently among themselves.
> Back at the shrine grounds, you pick up the broom and look around for a place to put it.  There doesn't seem to be a storage building like you have at your place, but you could probably lean it against the wall if you wanted to.

> _

[Sect]

> Let's lean it against a wall and under a roof or other kind of overhead, just in case it rains. Then, stride on in like we own the place, looking for Kikuri.
> ... This must be what it feels like on the other end of random youkai and Marisa bursting in on our shrine.

[日巫子]

> Let's lean it against a wall and under a roof or other kind of overhead, just in case it rains. Then, stride on in like we own the place, looking for Kikuri.
> ... This must be what it feels like on the other end of random youkai and Marisa bursting in on our shrine.

> You lean the broom against the nearest wall and walk into the shrine.
> It's quiet in here.  All the lights are off.  It hasn't changed from the last time you visited.

> _

[Hello Purvis]

>Do we hear anyone?

[日巫子]

>Do we hear anyone?

> You don't.

> _

[Hello Purvis]

>Let's head for that room. The one we didn't like at all. Don't enter it, but approach it and peek inside if the door is still open.

[日巫子]

>Let's head for that room. The one we didn't like at all. Don't enter it, but approach it and peek inside if the door is still open.

> You reluctantly head down the hall, through the kitchen and into the room, and observe the room that made you feel uneasy from afar.
> The door is closed.

> _

[Sect]

> Carefully try at the door to see if it's unlocked.

[日巫子]

> Carefully try at the door to see if it's unlocked.

> You wiggle the door, and it opens a bit.

> _

[Sect]

> Take a deep breath, then open the door.

[日巫子]

> Take a deep breath, then open the door.

> You open the door and...there's nothing in here, but it's so dark, you can't see the corners of the room.  Just the center and the table.  The atmosphere feels like a heavy, suffocating blanket has been tucked over you.

> _

[Sect]

> Swallow, then steel our nerves. We've faced off against all kinds of trouble, a single room shouldn't be this terrible!
> Let the wisp enter first, then follow it inside.

[日巫子]

> Swallow, then steel our nerves. We've faced off against all kinds of trouble, a single room shouldn't be this terrible!
> Let the wisp enter first, then follow it inside.

> You summon the wisp and let it illuminate the room enough that you can see where you're going as you step inside.
> When you step in here, your body feels floaty.  There's a lump in your throat and your eyes start to sting.  A sudden, overwhelming feeling of loss wells up in you.

> _

[Sect]

> Try to get a grip on ourselves, and look around to see if anything stands out. There's got to be something making us feel like this...

[日巫子]

> Try to get a grip on ourselves, and look around to see if anything stands out. There's got to be something making us feel like this...

> You look around the room and see nothing.  There's just this table.  There aren't even any decorations in here.  There's nothing.

> _

[Sect]

> The hell. Flip that table in frustration and totally not because we're trying our best to run all the way home.

[日巫子]

> The hell. Flip that table in frustration and totally not because we're trying our best to run all the way home.

> In the spur of the moment, you heave the table and flip it over.  It slams into the floor with a loud thud.  Your muscles strain with this act, but you did it.

> _

[Sect]

> There. That'll learn it.
> ... Okay sod this we're out. Dart out of the room and try to breathe.

[日巫子]

> There. That'll learn it.
> ... Okay sod this we're out. Dart out of the room and try to breathe.

> You've had enough.  You immediately leave the room and take a moment to regain your ability to breathe.
> Although you are out of the room, you still feel its presence, like eyes boring into your back.

> _

[Sect]

> Slam that door shut! Stupid room, that'll teach it!
> What WAS that? Is the room haunted?

[日巫子]

> Slam that door shut! Stupid room, that'll teach it!
> What WAS that? Is the room haunted?

> You slam the door shut, and the foreboding atmosphere vanishes.
> You're amazed anyone could live in this shrine, with a room like that.

> _

[Sect]

> Lean against the wall and rest a bit. Can we think of anything that would make that room feel like, well, that?
> Listen to hear if anyone reacted to us sealing that den of evil.

[日巫子]

> Lean against the wall and rest a bit. Can we think of anything that would make that room feel like, well, that?
> Listen to hear if anyone reacted to us sealing that den of evil.

> As you take a moment to rest, you think of what could be causing the room to give off those bad vibes.  Honestly, the only thing you can think of is that it's possessed by something.
> You listen, but there are no footsteps nor voices, so you don't think anyone heard you.

> _

[Sect]

> What sort of preparations would we need to make to exorcise this room? It can't be healthy for mini Konngara to live in a haunted shrine.