Maribel Quest Continuation: A Z-Machine Adventure

[Hello Purvis]

> "I was asking more for what you felt was your highest priority. But if you want to hit up everything in the shortest trip, we can do that too."
> Which of the three locations we talked about is closest to where we are now?

>She nods. "I like surprises."
>The closest order would be Marisa, assuming she's home, Ichirin if she's at the temple, and then the Sanzu river.

> Alternatively, we could be a bastard and take the longest time possible doing this.
> That isn't nice though, and Renko would probably notice it.

>You could, it isn't, and she would.

> It would be nice to spend more alone time with her, but we'll probably get that throughout life anyway, and keeping her away will not a happier Alice make.

>There are pros and cons...

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "...Actually, this will go slightly out of order, but I think Ichirin would be our best first stop, for a few reasons. I think you could benefit from meeting Byakuren, she's a pretty smart woman in a pretty unique situation, and I think they might both still be at their temple."

[Hello Purvis]

> "...Actually, this will go slightly out of order, but I think Ichirin would be our best first stop, for a few reasons. I think you could benefit from meeting Byakuren, she's a pretty smart woman in a pretty unique situation, and I think they might both still be at their temple."

>Renko nods, glancing toward the south briefly.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> If we aren't already holding her hand (still), take it now.
> Grin.
> "Okay, Renko Usami...welcome to Gensokyo."
> Let's go go go to Byakuren's Temple.

[Hello Purvis]

> If we aren't already holding her hand (still), take it now.
> Grin.
> "Okay, Renko Usami...welcome to Gensokyo."
> Let's go go go to Byakuren's Temple.

>You take Renko by the hand, grin, and welcome her to the world. She grins back. "You starting a touring agency?"
>The two of you take to the air, and make your way toward the human village. Renko once again returns to looking around in every direction as you soar over, and past the forest. You travel in silence, reflecting that this kind of flight is even better than the usual kind. Soon, you're over the fields.
>"Hey!" Renko says, "What's that place?" She points toward an old house not far from the edge of the forest, north of the point at the intersection of the forest road and the youkai mountain road.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Is that Rinnosuke's shop, or something else?

[Hello Purvis]

> Is that Rinnosuke's shop, or something else?

>Kourindou is a little ways into the forest along the road. This building is rather isolated. You've seen it, but never really paid it any mind, as you tended to have other places to go. You've not been to it.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "I actually don't know. I've never stopped by. We could find out if you like, there's a shop a little ways into the forest with a man we could ask. Or...I guess we could just stop here and take a peek through the windows. I'm a little skiddish about trespassing, though, after Yuuka taught me about personal space."
> Does this building have any windows? Can we see through them?

[Hello Purvis]

> "I actually don't know. I've never stopped by. We could find out if you like, there's a shop a little ways into the forest with a man we could ask. Or...I guess we could just stop here and take a peek through the windows. I'm a little skiddish about trespassing, though, after Yuuka taught me about personal space."
> Does this building have any windows? Can we see through them?

>There are windows, and you're pretty sure you can see through them. But the building; a house you think, it kind of distant, so you can't really see much from here.
>"You have more experience with this," says Renko. "I'll leave it up to you. You do seem kind of excited about this Ichirin person."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Because I think she'll be helpful for you, silly. Though, the more I think about it, the more you have to see Byakuren. Let's go meet them first, and we can ask them if they know anything about this house. We can come back here after we're done talking to them, because now I'm curious too."
> Make a mental note where this house is for later revisiting, and continue on to the temple.

[Hello Purvis]

> "Because I think she'll be helpful for you, silly. Though, the more I think about it, the more you have to see Byakuren. Let's go meet them first, and we can ask them if they know anything about this house. We can come back here after we're done talking to them, because now I'm curious too."
> Make a mental note where this house is for later revisiting, and continue on to the temple.

>"Oh, I have to now, huh?" says Renko. "Can't say no to that!"
>You make a note to of the house's location, and continue onward.
>The town is fairly busy right now. People moving about, gathered around the various shops, entering and leaving the pub, heading to and from the nearby farms. Seen from above, it's interesting to track all the motion through the otherwise sleepy little place. You arrive at the temple with little trouble, and find that aside from people drawing water from the well, no one seems to pay you or Renko any mind. Renko, however, is all too happy to stare at the people near the well, then gawk at the ship-turned-temple. It seems fairly quiet inside.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Oh man, she's so precious. (This player actually started grinning while imagining this scene.)
> "Y'like that, huh? And just think - you ain't seen nothin' yet."

[Hello Purvis]

> Oh man, she's so precious. (This player actually started grinning while imagining this scene.)
> "Y'like that, huh? And just think - you ain't seen nothin' yet."

>It really is adorable. You wonder if you were that "adorable" when you first came here?
>"Oh really?" says Renko. "Then by all means, wow me."

>_

[Rin Kagamine]

> Approach the temple and look for signs of Byakuren inside.
> If we don't see her, call into the temple for her.

[E-Nazrin]

>Did we ever hear anything about anyone that might be good with Star magic, since Renko said she'd be good at that?



Rough battle plan for the main situation:

- Get Renko a different plan for the fairies ASAP. This is of prime importance to sway Renko out of it before anything nasty happens.
- Once she has a good one, get the OK to call off the attack or at least divert away her involvement in it. Victoly!
- Issue: Alice may attack the mansion anyway, even without fairy support (or try to rile them up herself). That means that the fairies need to be diverted and she needs to be dealt with, through combat or otherwise. Getting support for that will be tough. We might want to tell Renko about the potion Marisa gave us, since we might want to use it if we have to face Alice.

- * Only clever suggestion: Once Renko's agreed to call off the attack (one can hope), split up; her to divert the fairies, and Mary to warn the SDM about Alice's inclination to attack to 'make it a fair fight.' This lets us cover for telling Sakuya about it earlier.

The real problem will be with addressing the fairy maid exodus... if they'll come back/be allowed back once Renko finishes with her project, then we can at least say that, but Sakuya still won't be happy. Do NOT push for it, but it might be reasonable to ask Renko about what to do there - whether to insist on labor negotiations first or allow back just a few relatively willing fairies to calm Sakuya and make any discussion of that go better; we could ask the fairies at the mansion for names of friends that were there or something.

[Hello Purvis]

> Approach the temple and look for signs of Byakuren inside.
> If we don't see her, call into the temple for her.

>You approach and look inside. Down the hall made of sheets, you can see a hulkong form moving around, and hear the sound of a broom. You're reasonably certain this is Byakuren.

>Did we ever hear anything about anyone that might be good with Star magic, since Renko said she'd be good at that?

>You believe this is Marisa's area of expertise.

>_

[Rin Kagamine]

> "Byakuren?  It's Maribel!  I found my friend Renko, do you have a minute?"

[Hello Purvis]

> "Byakuren?  It's Maribel!  I found my friend Renko, do you have a minute?"

>"That's wonderful!" Byakuren calls back, "Please come inside."

>_

[Rin Kagamine]

> Head inside and towards Byakuren.

[E-Nazrin]

>Try not to grin too much at Renko's first reaction.

[Hello Purvis]

> Head inside and towards Byakuren.

>You make your way inside, walking down the sheet-lined hallway. It soon opens op to a sheet-lined room with a number of pillows on the floor in orderly rows, and a small altar at the back, with an tiny clay icon of the smiling buddha set on it. A censer in the corner gives off a faint aroma of incense. Byakuren is here, using a broom rather like a feather duster to clean up. She smiles to you as you enter. "Hello Maribel, and it is a pleasure Renko."

>Try not to grin too much at Renko's first reaction.

>You try not to. But you fail. Her eyebrows raise, and her mouth presses into a thin line. "Wow," she mutters, "should've drank my milk when I was a kid."
>You're not sure if Byakuren heard that, or if she just politely ignores it. "Please, have a seat," she says.

>_

[Dizzy H. "Muffin" Muffin]

> Sit down.

(Also I'm imagining the next meeting with Kanako. "I have located Renko! She is ... RIGHT NEXT TO YOU")

[Hello Purvis]

> Sit down.

>You have a seat. Hey, are these pillows filled with actual feathers? Weird.
>"I hope you're both doing well?" Byakuren asks.

>_

[Rin Kagamine]

> "Indeed, and much better after we finally ran into each other."
> What did we want to talk with Byakuren about anyway?

[E-Nazrin]

I think the main point is to catch up and ask about what to do with the fairies. How to segue into that appropriately I'm not sure.

Granted, we could also have more small-talk-ish stuff about what Mary and Byakuren have talked about/done before.

[Kilgamayan]

> We wanted to talk to Ichirin about fairies. We wanted to talk to Byakreun because (a) Ha ha, old chap! Renko's reaction, and (b) getting Renko a new perspective on Gensokyo life.

Remember, Renko's entire Gensokyo experience up to the TLC session was fairies and Alice with a shady agenda.

[Hello Purvis]

> "Indeed, and much better after we finally ran into each other."
> What did we want to talk with Byakuren about anyway?

>She nods. "That's refreshing to hear. Have you been practicing?"
>What did you want to talk with her about?

> We wanted to talk to Ichirin about fairies. We wanted to talk to Byakreun because (a) Ha ha, old chap! Renko's reaction, and (b) getting Renko a new perspective on Gensokyo life.

>Oh yeah, that.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Yep!"
> Show Byakuren Hina's spellcard.
> "Had a run-in with Shizuha right before that, too."

[E-Nazrin]

>"It's been a busy day, all in all."

[Hello Purvis]

> "Yep!"
> Show Byakuren Hina's spellcard.
> "Had a run-in with Shizuha right before that, too."

>You show her Wound Sign: Pain Flow Endlessly. (Captured). "Oh, very impressive," says Byakuren. "You've already managed to capture a card. Well done!"
>"You did?" Renko asks, "Good work!" She gives you a congratulatory pat one the shoulder. "You have to be good to do that!"
>You mention your run-in with Shizuha. Byakuren nods. "That's not surprising, given the time of year, from what I understand."

>_