Patchy Quest One More Time: A Z-Machine Adventure

[E-Nazrin]

>consider ditching robe if it starts weighing you down more than is worth the protection against stings
>if flying doesn't work, try to follow the spirit

[Hello Purvis]

>Wonder if Sanae is enacting the miracle of the Great Flood
>Maybe we should take the opportunity of slowed bee activity to find higher ground now. Or at least find Yuyuko.
>I guess we can't really combust the bees with all this rain, how else would one kill cosmic horror bees? D:
>IDEA, fly up in the air and look for Yuyuko and the spirit

>You look around for Yuyuko, but the rain, the swarm and the general darkness make it very hard to see anything.
>You take to the air. You realize, very quickly that this is a terrible idea when bees start to fly up your robe for both shelter and new flesh to attack.

>consider ditching robe if it starts weighing you down more than is worth the protection against stings
>if flying doesn't work, try to follow the spirit

>It's not all that heavy yet, but ditching your robe would cost you most of your inventory.
>Flying has worked, just that it had consequences. You will likely want to deal with it quickly.
>The rain is coming down harder. You are getting soaked.

[Serela]

>Fly away from your current spot quickly in order to ditch the bees

[Hello Purvis]

>Fly away from your current spot quickly in order to ditch the bees

>You start flying away in a random direction. It doesn't help get rid of the numerous bees that have already gotten to you, but it does keep more from getting there. Your legs feel like they are on fire, and there's the feeling of them crawling all over your skin and oh god!

>_

[E-Nazrin]

>would carrying the robe keep the inventory stuff intact? If so, pull it off to get some of that soothing water where it's now needed
>keep moving - get somewhere - oh god the bees

[Hello Purvis]

>would carrying the robe keep the inventory stuff intact? If so, pull it off to get some of that soothing water where it's now needed
>keep moving - get somewhere - oh god the bees

>It would, but it would also slow down your access to it considerably.
>You keep moving, and shake a few off simply by virtue of the motion. But the majority keep at sending agony up your legs.
>The rain is getting harder, you are quickly becoming thoroughly soaked.

>_

[Thata no Guykoro]

>Check inventory. See which items will be inaccessable if we drop our robe.

[Hello Purvis]

>Check inventory. See which items will be inaccessable if we drop our robe.

>You will lose everything you are not carrying or wearing. So pretty much all of your inventory except the Witch's Cap, the Tiger Cub Pin, the Youmu's Short Blade, and the Ruined Hat. As well, you'll lose any protective benefits it has.

>_

[E-Nazrin]

>this is exceptionally not worth it; actually, wait on taking it off unless the soaking water starts to make it difficult to keep moving effectively
>does anything seem to be happening with the bees? Is the ground all soggy or anything?

[Hello Purvis]

>this is exceptionally not worth it; actually, wait on taking it off unless the soaking water starts to make it difficult to keep moving effectively
>does anything seem to be happening with the bees? Is the ground all soggy or anything?

>The bees seem to be having a hard time staying in the air for any length of time without be pelted by the rain or each other. At the same time, the thickness of the swarm is helping to keep it it from being too badly ruined. They are still attacking you, but not so much now. Were it not for the agony in your legs making it hard to concentrate, you could probably start to talk small actions that are not entirely defensive.
>The ground certainly looks soggy, you imagine that the spellcard you tossed is getting quite thoroughly ruined now.
>The rain is growing harder; your robes are now thoroughly sodden, and your hair is soon to follow.

>_

[Fightest]

> Stop, drop and roll.
> If that doesn't get rid of the bees on us, roll into the SDM lake.

[Toasty]

>scratch that. Hang upside down, keep pockets from dropping contents, hope aya hasn't came here by some method.

[Hello Purvis]

> Stop, drop and roll.
> If that doesn't get rid of the bees on us, roll into the SDM lake.

>scratch that. Hang upside down, keep pockets from dropping contents, hope aya hasn't came here by some method.

>You consider both of these methods, in the sense of consideration that they are desperate ideas to make the hurting stop. Stopping is certainly a terrible idea, which at least two of them are based on. This leaves you the lake. Unfortunately you have no idea where it is in relation to yourself.

>_

[Fightest]

> Fine, dive, drop, roll. It's the rolling bit that's important.

[Hello Purvis]

> Fine, dive, drop, roll. It's the rolling bit that's important.

>Dive means multiple things in this context. Do you want to dive into the lake, or through the air? The former requires a lake.

>_

[Fightest]

> Oh now you're just being finicky. We can hardly drop and roll whilst in a lake, can we?
> Dive to ground and immediately proceed with the rolling.
> When bees have been rolled off to a satisfactory degree, quickly get up and resume flailing.

[Hello Purvis]

> Oh now you're just being finicky. We can hardly drop and roll whilst in a lake, can we?
> Dive to ground and immediately proceed with the rolling.
> When bees have been rolled off to a satisfactory degree, quickly get up and resume flailing.

>Have you see some of the things people have tried to do? Sometimes you got to be sure.
>You dive to the ground as well as you are able without cutting your speed, and roll in the newly made mud. You make a right mess of yourself, but you also manage to dislodge a lot of the bees, and presumably squish some of them to pulp. Your legs are still burning with pain, but at least it is fading now.
>Unfortunately, the swarm takes this opportunity to descend upon your while you are less mobile; your hands and face are quickly covered angry bees, while quickly erupt into fiery agony. Get up and get back into motion as quickly as you can,trying to keep them from crawling down your neckline or up your sleeves. Thankfully, you get some measure of relief from the rain, which is starting to fall with enough intensity to sting a little on its own; which is more than adequate to smack bees from the air. Soon, you are able to free yourself from the worst of them, and the rain somewhat soothes away the pain.
>The rain is coming down harder. It's inhibiting the swarm quite a bit now and forcing it lower to the ground.

>_

[E-Nazrin]

>hover just barely above the ground to avoid tripping in the mud, unless that would be just as difficult or significantly increase exposure to Bees
>cut, cut through confusion the swarm

[Fightest]

> Fast forward until rain is of monsoon level. Then we can work.

[Hello Purvis]

>hover just barely above the ground to avoid tripping in the mud, unless that would be just as difficult or significantly increase exposure to Bees
>cut, cut through confusion the swarm

>As long as you are able to stay in motion, you are able to more or less thwart the swarm from finding purchase on you. The rain makes it difficult for them to swarm to strike at you unless you stay still or collide into them; the latter isn't so bad as long as you keep moving. You now have something akin to breathing room to try other things, as long as you stay somewhat offensive.
>The rain is coming down harder, it is starting be physically uncomfortable to be exposed to. You also can't see more than a yard or two in front of you for the rain, the bees, and the darkness.

> Fast forward until rain is of monsoon level. Then we can work.

>This does not take very long. The rain continues to smashing into the swarm like so many little bullets. The bees can hardly fly at all any more before being smashed down by sheets of water. You are thoroughly soaked to the bone; and it is a blessing the rain is as warm as it is or you would have a nasty chill. The sound of the swarm is but a background noise to the sound of the driving precipitation. The force of the rain is also enough to agitate your numerous wounds. Looking to the ground, among the thousands of bees writhing upon the ground, you see that numerous large puddles have formed. At this rate, there will soon be a flash flood.

>_

>_

[Fightest]

> Mentally sisfist Sanae. Girl's got what it takes.
> Now that the bees are less of a distraction, look for Yuyuko and Sanae, then move to higher ground.
> The mansion's pretty tall, let's go there.

[Hello Purvis]

> Mentally sisfist Sanae. Girl's got what it takes.
> Now that the bees are less of a distraction, look for Yuyuko and Sanae, then move to higher ground.
> The mansion's pretty tall, let's go there.

>You can see maybe a yard ahead of you. Maybe two if you squint hard and pretend. It is quite easily to spend a long time looking for your companions and never find them.
>You recall that much of the mansion, in this place, had fallen apart. You also have no idea where it is in relation to yourself.

>_

[E-Nazrin]

>if it's safe enough to get in the air above the bees without getting stung to hell, do so for visibility and safety
>examine inventory for large, heavy objects for squishing purposes
>or maybe just let the flash flood drown 'em all

[Hello Purvis]

>if it's safe enough to get in the air above the bees without getting stung to hell, do so for visibility and safety
>examine inventory for large, heavy objects for squishing purposes
>or maybe just let the flash flood drown 'em all

>You go up as high as you can. Or at least high enough that you can't see the ground or the bees anymore.
>You check your inventory.
>Your Metal Sign: Metal Fatigue has been completely ruined by the rain.
>Your Pad of Paper has been completely ruined by the rain.
>Your Earth Sign: Rage Trilithon (Used) has been completely ruined by the rain.
>Your Fire & Earth Sign: Lava Cromlech (used) has been completely ruined by the rain.
>Your Fire Sign: Agni Shine (Used) has been completely ruined by the rain.
>Your Fire Sign: Agni Shine High Level (used) has been completely ruined by the rain.
>Your Earth Sign: Rage Trilithon High Level has been completely ruined by the rain.
>Your Earth Sign: Trilithon Shake (used) has been completely ruined by the rain.
>Your Metal Sign: Silver Dragon has been completely ruined by the rain.
>Your Wood and Fire Sign: Forest Blaze (used) has been completely ruined by the rain.
>Your Wood and Water Sign: Water Elf  (Used) has been completely ruined by the rain.
>Your Earth and Metal Sign: Emerald Megalith (used) has been completely ruined by the rain.
>Your Moon Sign: Silent Selene (used) has been completely ruined by the rain.
>Your Cardboard Sleeve has been completely ruined by the rain.
>Your Floating Trumpet has been completely ruined by the rain.
>Your Half of a Grilled Lamprey Sandwich has been completely ruined by the rain.
>Your Explosion Sign: Mega Flare (Used) has been completely ruined by the rain.
>Your Electric Train Set has been made temporarily and perhaps permanently unusable by the rain.
>Your Shoddy Drawing has been completely ruined by the rain.
>Your Doughnut has been completely ruined by the rain.
>Your Butterfly Fan has been completely ruined by the rain.
>Your Book Entitled: The Jungle by Upton Sinclair has been completely ruined by the rain.
>Your Sun Sign: Mega Flare (used) has been completely ruined by the rain.
>Your Sun Sign: Royal Flare (used) has been completely ruined by the rain.
>Your Horribly Out of Date Map of Gensokyo has been completely ruined by the rain.
>Your Mona Patchy, by Flandre Age 501 has been completely ruined by the rain.
>Your Book Entitled: Monday Magic by Patchouli Knowledge: 1500☼ has been somewhat ruined by the rain.
>The largest items you have are your Box and your Monday Magic by Patchouli Knowledge: 1500☼ (waterlogged).

>_

[Fightest]

>Your Mona Patchy, by Flandre Age 501 has been completely ruined by the rain.
>_

> Oh god! How could you?
> ...Wait a second.

>Your Floating Trumpet has been completely ruined by the rain.

> Wat? It's not a Steinway Grand, it's a freaking trumpet!

[Hello Purvis]

> Oh god! How could you?
> ...Wait a second.

> Wat? It's not a Steinway Grand, it's a freaking trumpet!

>You had ample opportunity to put it someplace safe, or at least in the box.
>Wait, no. The Floating Trumpet is just muddy. False alarm.

>_

[Rin Kagamine]

> Put Monday Magic and Floating Trumpet in the Box

[Hello Purvis]

> Put Monday Magic and Floating Trumpet in the Box

>The Floating Trumpet still does not fit in the Box
>The Book Entitled: Monday Magic by Patchouli Knowledge: 1500☼ (waterlogged) just barely fits into the box.

>_

[Toasty]

>dear god save the mona patchy
>Fly up, keep moving (ziggitty zaggitty), find the nearest high ground, go to it. Yuyu can't die and sanae can split the waters to make a safe haven, so they're fine.

[Fightest]

>dear god save the mona patchy

> I will save this patient!
> Carefully fold the picture twice - the paper is less likely to tear if it's uniformly wet than if it had soggy patches, so this should be doable. There's nothing much we can do about the crayon drawing itself, but we can hope that the ones used here aren't strongly water-soluble.
> Place the folded-up drawing between the pages of Monday Magic. That should prevent any further damage, as well as start slowly leeching the water from the picture itself.
> Place Monday Magic into Box.