Maidens of the Kaleidoscope
~Beyond the Border~ => Rumia's Party Games => Mystia's Stored Games => Topic started by: DracoOmega on October 30, 2011, 04:17:13 AM
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>You are Nazrin, a newly inducted member of the Seeker's Guild, and you are dying.
>While investigating a series of cattle disappearances around the village of Easthaven, you uncovered a nest of giant spiders. Your subsequent investigation of their lair had dire and lasting consequences when a wild spider youkai, furious with you for killing a dozen of her kin, infected you with a supernaturally virulent disease. You narrowly eascaped death that very day due to the sheltering power of Kumokirimaru and Minoriko's creative thinking. Still, she was unable to halt the progression of the disease and insists that you have no more than a week or two to live. Determined that you will survive this ordeal, you have set out in search of a cure.
>Your investigation has brought you back to Braston, where you spent most of this last evening looking for information about either your disease, or the sword that you found within their lair, in the hopes that any clue of its origin may lead to an answer for the blight. Unfortunately, no one you've spoken with yet has any familiarity with your disease, nor knowledge of the war which the spider youkai spoke of. Nor can any of them read the inscription found on Kumokirimaru's guard, though you've learned that its script matches that of the dig site recently established on an islet off the north edge of Estval. An archeology student associated with that dig has promised to contact her supervisor, Professor Kamishirasawa, and ask if you can be taken to the site to speak with her about this.
>At your request, Marisa has departed for Easthaven to defeat the spider youkai who infected you and deliver her to Ichirin, in the hope that she may be able to convince the youkai where you failed, and perhaps offer her a better future than the one which awaits her now.
>You also spoke with Yuugi Hoshiguma, who expressed an interest in meeting you after your encounter with Yuzu earlier in the week. She offered to get a crude scabbard made for your sword, and said it would probably be ready by tomorrow afternoon.
>You are currently in the home and practice of a mage physician, who has offered to craft a magical cure for your ailment. While she is the first yet to suggest any treatment at all for this disease, you find something about the encounter leaves you wary, and have decided to investigate other options before agreeing to her price.
>Hm. Maybe she ain't so bad. Either that, or she knows how to play folks. But we'll keep her in mind if our other leads dry up.
>"Well, I thank you for your time. And your concern, as well, I appreciate it."
>Assuming she doesn't stop us, depart and continue running down leads.
>Well, it wasn't blatant salesmanship, and she clearly knows at least a couple tricks. You decide it's worth keeping her in mind, at least.
>She nods. "Of course."
>You take your leave and return to following up names on Rinnosuke's list.
>Arriving at the location of the second name, you find all the house's windows dark. You knock just the same. And then again. When complete silence from inside is your only answer, you decide they're either away, or soundly (and quietly) asleep. Well, you can always check back later.
>Your fourth stop is at the home of a heavy-set middle aged woman, her hair a little dishevelled and with tired rings under her eyes. You are fairly certain that you woke her up with your knocking, though this seems to bother her little. As it turns out, she is the doctor who travelled to Easthaven to tend to you while you lay feverish and unconscious. She tells you that she is very glad to see you on your feet, the unsaid implication of her tone being that she didn't expect there was any hope you ever would again.
>Unfortunately, she can only reiterate what Ichirin and Minoriko already told you: that she knows nothing of this disease, nor any treatment that she can reasonably expect would be effective, given her earlier attempts. She actually directs you towards the first man you spoke with this evening, and slumps a little when you explain that he had already drawn a blank as well. With a shurg and a sigh, you thank her for her time and let her get back to bed.
>It's getting quite late now, and most of the city is quiet around you. To the far north, you can still hear the night-long sounds of the oni, almost gentle at this distance.
>How many guilders do we currently have?
>You currently have 455 guilders.
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>Hmm. How many more names are on the list?
>How tired are we?
>Is there a chapel around to pledge our vows to Orange?
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>Hmm. How many more names are on the list?
>How tired are we?
>Is there a chapel around to pledge our vows to Orange?
>Only a couple.
>Pretty tired, honestly. You're still not feeling in top form, and you've done an awful lot of running around today. You could still manage to keep going for a bit if you chose to, however.
>"No ceremony or band of gold could make my devotion any more true, my love," she cries. "I would sooner have my soul torn asunder than be untrue to you for even a moment. But if this means you will accept my devotion, then I pledge to you my every breath in this life and the next and the ones thereafter, as long as my soul has form."
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>Visit the closest name to our current location, then gauge our status.
>"'tis for that very reason why I desire a public display, dear Orange!" Grasp her hands tightly. "To show the world that true love exists, and can be found, if one is brave! That the world might see your devotion, and know that pure love, pure good, still exists, as an example for all to strive for!"
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>"'tis for that very reason why I desire a public display, dear Orange!" Grasp her hands tightly. "To show the world that true love exists, and can be found, if one is brave! That the world might see your devotion, and know that pure love, pure good, still exists, as an example for all to strive for!"
>"Then let us show them!" she replies, her expression rapturous.
>Visit the closest name to our current location, then gauge our status.
>You select the closest name, and continue onward.
>This home, too, is dark when you approach it, though you manage to roust the owner after some knocking. He is somewhat less indifferent to this inconvenience than the woman you spoke with last was, given that you appear to be in no immediate distress. Nevertheless, he does perform a brief examination. After it, he expresses skepticism about the lethality of the condition, given its lack of apparent impairment in any number of physical systems, but suggests that if you are truly convinced it requires an unusual remedy, a certain other physician in town would have the most encyclopedia knowledge to consult. Disappointingly, though perhaps unsurprising, this is again the man who sat at the top of Rinnosuke's list. However, he adds that if this was the work of a youkai, not all normal medical rules may apply, and that spiritual measures might be a more fruitful avenue to explore. With that, he ushers you out again, quite visibly eager to return to sleep.
>Stepping outside again, you guage your condition. You are understandably somewhat more fatigued than before the visit, though it truth it did not take too long, and perhaps a little frustrated, given how little useful information you've managed to gather so far. That being said, you still could keep going in you wanted, though you feel the chances of finding any humans up and about it probably pretty slim now.
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>Okay, ONE more name.
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>Okay, ONE more name.
>You decide to try one more name on the list. This one takes you nearly all the way across town, back towards the guild and peripherally close to the neighborhood of your own apartment. You find yourself in front of a rather small dwelling, not terribly larger than your own meager quarters, and notably smaller than most of the places you've yet visited. Yet again, consulting with this person involves making a deliberate effort to wake them. Fortunately, the woman who eventually answers the door is more patient with you than the previous physician. Unfortunately, it turns out that she is essentially little more than a first aid worker, with very limited expertise outside of common ailments. Upon seeing your condition, she immediately directs you to several other people, all of whom you've already consulted with. You thank her for her time, and let her get back to sleep.
>You let out a little sigh as you step back into the night air. Maybe you should think about doing the same?
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>Take a moment to lean our back against a building and breathe first.
>Well at least the night wasn't a wash. We sent Marisa to Easthaven. Maybe we couldn't get anything tangible about a cure tonight, but we at least left one door open. Might have to see her tomorrow, depending on if this archaeologist prof gets into town and if said prof has anything useful for us.
>Spare a moment to think about Orange. She's not gonna like hearing about this part of our first real job, no, sir.
>Worries for tomorrow, though. Not getting much else done tonight. Make for home.
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>Take a moment to lean our back against a building and breathe first.
>Well at least the night wasn't a wash. We sent Marisa to Easthaven. Maybe we couldn't get anything tangible about a cure tonight, but we at least left one door open. Might have to see her tomorrow, depending on if this archaeologist prof gets into town and if said prof has anything useful for us.
>Spare a moment to think about Orange. She's not gonna like hearing about this part of our first real job, no, sir.
>Worries for tomorrow, though. Not getting much else done tonight. Make for home.
>You pause a moment, leaning your back against the side of a building and reflecting on the night's events. Even if you haven't found what you'd been hoping you would, you've still set a few other things in motion and left Easthaven in good hands. You wonder how far Marisa's gotten by now...
>You spare a thought to Orange. There's no doubt this news would hit her hard. Poor girl practically wears her heart on her sleeve, even though you know she tries to avoid it.
>With a resigned sigh, you push off the wall again and head for home. It's late, you're tired, and all the leads you're waiting on are going to take until tomorrow before you can do anything about them. May as well get some sleep.
>After a short and uneventful walk, you find yourself back in front of your door once more. Man... with how the events of the last week have been, it seems almost like months since you've been here. There are a couple scattered lights to be seen in the windows of the other guild quarters, though the neighborhood is still mostly quiet.
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>Head inside.
>Carry Orange across the threshold. "Are you ready, my dear?"
>Produce Rinosuke's list and scratch off the names we've visited tonight. Procuring a writing instrument if we've not one on our person.
>Search our room for any spare weapons we left behind when we left town the first time.
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>Head inside.
>Carry Orange across the threshold. "Are you ready, my dear?"
>Produce Rinosuke's list and scratch off the names we've visited tonight. Procuring a writing instrument if we've not one on our person.
>Search our room for any spare weapons we left behind when we left town the first time.
>You unlock the door and step inside. With the money you've earned and the treasure you've found, this ought to have been a triumphant return. Instead... Well, nothing for it now. Things are as they are. Your room is also about the same as you left it, aside from the color of the cauliflower on your table. You wrinkle your nose a little.
>"This is the happiest day of my life," she replies, smiling at you dreamily. "I shall live this moment over and over again in my heart."
>You take out Rinnosuke's list and fetch a pencil to cross off the names you've consulted tonight. That really is nearly all of the list, unfortunately.
>You've pretty confident that the 3 kunai you left with were all you had. Given that Seekers are essentially self-funded outside of a apprenticeship activities, your meager means didn't allow you to stockpile very much gear before officially starting your career. Of course, you have more than enough money to change that now...
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>Add that to our list of things to do tomorrow morning, before meeting up with Yuugi and hopefully Professor Kamishirasawa.
>Prepare for bed, and lay down.
>In the event that, for one reason or another, we have to leave the island to find a cure, do we know what the going rates are for transport off the island?
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>Add that to our list of things to do tomorrow morning, before meeting up with Yuugi and hopefully Professor Kamishirasawa.
>Prepare for bed, and lay down.
>In the event that, for one reason or another, we have to leave the island to find a cure, do we know what the going rates are for transport off the island?
>You make a note to look into better outfitting yourself tomorrow.
>Then you get ready for bed, changing into sleepwear and putting your borrowed clothes aside. You scrounge something to tie another secure binding around the hand gripping Kumokirimaru, and then slip under the covers.
>That depends very much on where you're going. Small ferries offering passage among the nearby islands might cost no more than 30 guilders up to somewhere in the 60 or so range for more distant parts of the Outer Freelands. Actually crossing the Great Expanse to where the larger nations lie, however, is a much longer and commensurately more expensive trip. Passage to Val Razua would likely cost around 200 guilders, and any of the other nations would be even more expensive.
>Despite your fatigue, sleep does not come easily. The issues of the day weigh heavily upon you, and the sword makes an uncomfortable companion in your bed. You adjust yourself an aggravating number of times while the evening's conversations and thoughts of your future play over and over in your head. Eventually your mind grows muffled as a heavy blackness descends upon it like a leaden blanket and you sink beneath it.
>You awaken many hours later, to the light of early morning streaming in through your window. Your side is cramped from how you apparently ended up lying on part of the sword, but otherwise you feel rested and in good health - better than yesterday, in fact.
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>200 guilders. Small wonder Orange hasn't made it yet.
>Is that cauliflower all we have to eat here?
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>200 guilders. Small wonder Orange hasn't made it yet.
>Is that cauliflower all we have to eat here?
>The passage isn't cheap, and that doesn't account for any other costs while there, of course. Orange's job may be steady, but you're pretty sure the pay isn't so hot either, once living expenses are taken out of it.
>Fortunately not. You still have some hard cheese and crackers left around.
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>It's a start.
>Rise and make ready for the day.
>Kiss Orange gently on her dozing eyelids.
>Appraise the cauliflower, disposing of any bits that look a little ehhhhhhh, and supplement our cheese and crackers with the veggie.
>Once breakfast is finished, put the pencil in our pack in case we didn't have anything in it to write with already, then depart.
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>It's a start.
>Rise and make ready for the day.
>Kiss Orange gently on her dozing eyelids.
>Appraise the cauliflower, disposing of any bits that look a little ehhhhhhh, and supplement our cheese and crackers with the veggie.
>Once breakfast is finished, put the pencil in our pack in case we didn't have anything in it to write with already, then depart.
>You rise and get ready for the day, switching into a new set of outdoor clothing which fit you rather better than the borrowed ones did. While in the process of dressing, your eye falls almost unavoidable at the marks of the blight upon your body. You're fairly certain they've grown slightly since yesterday, though the change is still small. Wait, is that...? You frown a little. Yes, there's definitely a new mark on your torso, just below your ribs on the left. It's only about a centimeter in diameter, but it absolutely was not visible when last you examined yourself. Dammit...
>She snores loudly and tries to swat you away, mumbling something incomprehensible.
>Putting that aside for the moment, you take a knife to the cauliflower in the hope of salvaging some of it. Unfortunately, it isn't long before you declare this a lost cause and put it aside. At least there wasn't very much of it left in the first place. You content yourself with the cheese and crackers, which honestly doesn't make a terrible start to the day, even if it's not quite as good as the last few breakfasts you've had.
>Once you finish, you take a pencil with you, grab your gear, and head out into the city. You've got work to do.
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>Did that breakfast satisfy us? If not, head towards the guildhall to scrounge more food.
>If it did, hit up the next lead.
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>Did that breakfast satisfy us? If not, head towards the guildhall to scrounge more food.
>If it did, hit up the next lead.
>It wasn't copious, but you think it'll last you for a bit.
>You take a look at your list and head towards one of the two remaining names on it. It is a fine morning out, and Braston is light and lively once more, its markets thick with people moving to and fro and merchants hawking their wares. Soon enough you find yourself in front of the right address. Unfortunately, while sleeping is less of an obstacle at this time of day, this does not guarantee contact, and indeed there is no answer to your knocking. However, this place looks to simply be a private dwelling and not a clinic or somesuch; it's possible the person is at work, if not simply off and about.
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>Right. Last name, then.
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>Right. Last name, then.
>You head towards the last name on the list - the one you failed to contact last night, in fact. That much at least is different this time; your knocking is answered by a rather thin man who ushers you into a small waiting room with uncomfortable chairs. There are a pair of people ahead of you, though the wait ends up being relatively brief. Still, you find your circumstances make you antsy; sitting around is really not what you want to be doing right now. Eventually, you are admitted to see the doctor, a tired-looking man with a staunchly neutral expression. He listens to your story and examines the marks on your skin with a cool professionalism. Unfortunately, he can do little more than prescribe some basic medications for infections - he gives you little confidence that they would be effective here - and suggest you consult with another physician.
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>Depart, and take our medicine. Which we had to have done last night as well, we wouldn't forget that.
>Well, then. If that's our list. Back to the guildhall, check our messages.
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>Depart, and take our medicine. Which we had to have done last night as well, we wouldn't forget that.
>Well, then. If that's our list. Back to the guildhall, check our messages.
>You depart and once some distance outside, retrieve the bottle of medicine Minoriko gave you from your pack and take your twice-daily dose. It is as potent and earthy-tasting as ever, making you wish you had something else to wash it down with. Perhaps you should make sure to have something on hand for that the next time... Ugh...
>With the unpleasant taste clinging tightly to your mouth and throat, you cover the short distance back to the guildhall and step inside.
>It seems Sashiko is on front desk duty again today. She greets you with a hint of a wave and a friendly nod. "Morning."
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>"G'morning."
>"Here to check my messages today, if any's left for me."
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>"G'morning."
>"Here to check my messages today, if any's left for me."
>"Let me see..." she says, leafing through a divided folder box. "Nope, don't see anything. Were you expecting something?" she asks, looking back at you.
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>Frown.
>"Yeah, from the archaeology crew working up north."
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>Frown.
>"Yeah, from the archaeology crew working up north."
>"Oh, huh." She takes another look through the files. "Don't see anything from them in here, and I've been on duty since we opened this morning; no one from there's come by, I'm pretty sure."
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>Hm... Current time.
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>Hm... Current time.
>It's probably not much later than 10 AM.
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>Well, good a time as any to to restock our gear.
>"Well, if anyone from them comes looking for me, tell them I'm still in town. They'll know what that means."
>Depart and make for that joint that deals with Seekers, that gives us deals on climbing gear, that sort of thing.
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>Well, good a time as any to to restock our gear.
>"Well, if anyone from them comes looking for me, tell them I'm still in town. They'll know what that means."
>Depart and make for that joint that deals with Seekers, that gives us deals on climbing gear, that sort of thing.
>You do likely have a bit of free time before you can expect any of people you're waiting on to be ready. You decide to do some resupplying.
>"Uh, sure," Sashiko replies, raising an eyebrow at you. "No problem."
>You leave the guildhall and head for Arlson Outfitters, only a short walk across the market area that the guild borders on.
>The shop's interior is a large, but rather claustrophobic space, with densely stocked shelves packed too close together. On display are all manner of tools and supplies of the outdoorsman's trade: rope, lanterns, compasses clothing for rough conditions and weather, tents and sleeping bags, survival knives and first aid gear, and many more things than you can take in at a glance. It has more the feel of a storeroom than a store; gear hung off the walls partially obscures what few windows exist, leaving the interior feeling dim despite the sunlight.
>The counter near the door is tended by a heavy-set man with a coarse black beard. He gives a curt nod in your direction as you enter.
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>Are the prices for this place listed somewhere? If not, are we familiar with them?
>Seek out a grappling hook, torches if available or a decent lantern preferably green, and a length of stout rope.
>Do there appear to be magical objects of sorts in this place? Magical sources of illumination, 'seeking' grappling hooks, ropes that coil on their own, that sort of thing.
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>Are the prices for this place listed somewhere? If not, are we familiar with them?
>Seek out a grappling hook, torches if available or a decent lantern preferably green, and a length of stout rope.
>Do there appear to be magical objects of sorts in this place? Magical sources of illumination, 'seeking' grappling hooks, ropes that coil on their own, that sort of thing.
>There are tags on or near the goods indicating price.
>You wander through the store, looking for the items in question. You find basic but solid grappling hooks listed at 20 guilders each. There are several kinds of torches; the smaller common-use ones are only 2 guilders each, with long-burning waterproof ones costing 7. You see a solid lantern with sturdy casing priced at 24 guilders, though a more basic one can be purchased for 14. There is plenty of rope, but the cost of it is dependent on thickness and length. 50 feet of good quality, medium-duty rope is priced at 8 guilders.
>You suspect there are some minor enchantments on some of the high-end gear for durability, weatherproofing and such things; it's fairly common. Outside of that there are a few very simple magical objects, but if you were in the market for more exotic enchanted goods, this is not where you would come to shop. You see:
>A couple heatstones, useful for either keeping warm or cooking
>Small vials of liquid to purify water for drinking
>A rather pricey canteen that supposedly keeps that water in it safe to drink
>Several single-use glowsticks for lighting in wet conditions
>A compass that can somehow point itself towards the nearest settlement without aid of a map
>Powder that quickly dries wet clothes, wood, or paper
>Several strips of inscribed paper that produce a signaling flare when torn
>Gloves which allow their wearer to grip ice as securely as rough stone
>Attuned lodestones and their corresponding beacons, which serve as a navigational aid back to a specific preset point
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>Price check on the Heatstones, Glowsticks, City-seeking compass and Lodestones.
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>Price check on the Heatstones, Glowsticks, City-seeking compass and Lodestones.
>The heatstones range from 26 for a small one (about the size of your palm) up to 50 guilders for one large enough to cook a full-sized pot with. The glowsticks are 12 each, the compass is 75, and the lodestones are 48 per pair of lodestone and beacon.
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Now as cool as this stuff is, we do only have so much money, and we should keep some of it on hand, in the event we need to travel to cure this, and need boat tickets. Plus we still need to buy more kunai after this, and who knows what else we might find at the weapons store, so here's what I'm thinking we should get here
100 feet of rope (16 guilders), 2 glowsticks (24), one small heatstone (26), one grappling hook (20), 2 mundane torches (4) which is 90 so far. Hmmm....
>Do the glowsticks function underwater?
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>Do the glowsticks function underwater?
>Yes.
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And besides, nothing stopping from coming back here after we check out the weapons' shop, depending on how much money we have left, since we still have some time before we have to meet Yuugi.
>Purchase 100 feet of rope for 16 guilders, 2 glowsticks for 24, one small heatstone for 26, one grappling hook for 20, 2 mundane torches for 4.
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I'd say that works for me.
If we can find a sword that'll work with the one we already have, that should do for weaponry.
We're already decent enough at dual-wielding, so having a slightly smaller sword of similar style to go with the current one would be a logical thing.
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I'm thinking perhaps a rapier. Naz seems more the agile swashbuckler type than the longsword type, for some reason.
Either that or a solid dirk. Something like that hunting knife we left in the youkai, for instance.
A twinblade (Illadain style) would be a dream for me, and I think would fit Naz as well, but I admit to some personal bias there. :P Plus I'm sure onea those'd be expensive as all hell.
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I was thinking more of a wakizashi, like Youmu. Seeing as how the sword that we kinda can't let go of is a katana.
It's not exactly one of the things we're proficient with, but it'll suffice until we can kick this curse to the curb.
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Ha! I like it. That's an excellent idea. If we can find one for a decent price, of course.
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If we're going to do multiple weapons, it'd be a good idea to consider what kinds of things we'd be up against first. It's been stated we're not that comfortable with swords in a proper fight. In that kind of case, it may be a good idea to consider a decent shield (assuming they culturally exist; shields died out in Japan around the end of the Heian Era in favor of bows, then two-handed weapons).
It might be best to stick with the knives we know. They offer a lot of control and speed, and have more tool use than larger weapons. Given we're small anyways, getting in closer than optimal is already going to have to be a thing we do. Not to mention they're way easier to hide if we need to appear unarmed.
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Math ain't my strong suit, but I did some number-crunching based on the prices for the items already displayed, and matched it with RL prices.
By my(albeit horrid) calculations, it should be somewhere from 50-150 guilders for a sturdy enough one. I'm thinking at least 90 though for a decent one though.
Of course, we could get a one-handed shortspear to go with it too, folks used to use that combat style too.
In fact, I myself have a preference for styles like that. Though I prefer two-handed spears/swords more.
See, the spear was used on midrange foes, and the sword was used as a follow-up attack.
For a suitable spear, it should be somewhere between 40-130, give or take a few.
I'm thinking we can get our weapons from Yuugi, her work seems to be better than anything else we could get at.
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Spears might work well for Nazrin; and she could probably transition into javelins with less pain than normal as she has some experience with aiming thrown weapons, and even if a pilum doesn't culturally exist, it wouldn't be too hard to make one. But spears tend to be kind of limited in how you can use them; they can't slash very well, and aren't much suited for bludgeoning. Not to mention if some prick grabs the shaft we'd have issues.
Really, I think it may be best to stick with the knives we know best as a main weapon, save for specialized situations like the spider youkai.
>What sorts of defense skills do we have?
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We need to see Yuugi again later on today, so we should definately check out what she has to offer. I'm inclined to agree that she might be the best weaponsmith in town. Plus, she likes us. Might cut us a better deal than some others.
As for our preferred weapon, I think we should keep our options open, not set our minds in stone for anything just yet. Wait and see what, if anything, Yuugi has in our range, and then go from there. We may be able to pick up more than one weapon to compliment our katana here, depending on prices. But I definately think we should pick up a few more kunai, before anything else. They've served us very well so far.
>Is there a weapons' store in town that deals with Seekers on a regular basis, might have deals for them?
>Who is reputed to be the best weaponsmith in town?
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>Purchase 100 feet of rope for 16 guilders, 2 glowsticks for 24, one small heatstone for 26, one grappling hook for 20, 2 mundane torches for 4.
>You collect a variety of supplies and bring them to the counter. The shopkeeper skims them over with a practiced eye.
>"Comes to 75 with guild discount," he says bruskly.
>What sorts of defense skills do we have?
>The Seeker's training program did include some instruction in personal defense, though martial skills were far from the focus of the overall instruction. Getting into fights and danger is far from unknown for more adventurous Seekers, but more emphasis was placed on tracking, navigation, appraisal, wilderness skills, spotting and using deception and so forth. You've had a small amount of practice with a variety of common weapons - enough to feel capable of using them correctly, though you would rank yourself little more than an amateur with most. The training also spent some time on improvised weaponry, and thinking on one's feet in a combat situation. Outside of the basics, training tended to be more individuated and free-form. Seekers tend to be a fairly self-directed bunch, by definition. You know many apprentices eschewed further weapons practice, or did so only casually. Others honed their own interests in that domain outside of official Seeker training, and you're pretty sure Marisa was a skilled magician before she ever signed up; certainly no one around the guild could have taught her to do what she does.
>During basic training, you developed an affinity for throwing knives, and your naturally high agility made you adept with them. You put in a fair amount of target practice on your own and consider yourself to be a pretty good shot. Likewise, your stature and nimbleness made you good at operating and evading within close quarters, though you've rarely sparred with a truly high-level melee fighter; you outclassed most of the other apprentices fairly quickly, and the more experienced Seekers tended to be on the move a lot, though some would pitch in with the apprentices every now and again.
>Is there a weapons' store in town that deals with Seekers on a regular basis, might have deals for them?
>Who is reputed to be the best weaponsmith in town?
>You imagine that some do at least a little business with individual Seekers, though you don't know of any place that would offer you a specific bargain just for being one.
>Of that, you're honestly uncertain. You have little familiarity with individual smiths, though Yuugi's work looked quite skilled from what you saw.
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>Pay the man.
>Have we any training with ranged weapons beyond throwing knives?
>Where would we go to replenish edible supplies for the road?
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>Pay the man.
>Have we any training with ranged weapons beyond throwing knives?
>Where would we go to replenish edible supplies for the road?
>You pay 75 guilders. You have 380 remaining.
>You've shot a bow a few times, though you find them rather more awkward and wouldn't consider yourself very good at it.
>Any dry grocer's should suffice; there are several in town.
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>May as well make for one of those dry grocers', then. Whichever one we're most familiar with.
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>May as well make for one of those dry grocers', then. Whichever one we're most familiar with.
>You pack your purchases away and exit the outfitters, then make your way towards the nearby dry grocer that you tend to favor. Their selection is not as expansive as some, but the prices are better.
>The thick and stuffy scent of preserved food wafts across you as you enter the shop, a low-ceilinged space bountiful in creaky floorboards. Arrayed about the room are dried cheeses, meats, and fruit, as well as tinned goods, and flour, rice, and other staples in large sacks behind the counter. The grocer, a balding middle-aged man with a perpetual distracted expression is currently dealing with another customer's transaction. He pays little note of you as you enter.
-
>Select supplies enough for.... let's say three days on the road.
-
>Select supplies enough for.... let's say three days on the road.
>You browse through the store and select a reasonable spread of dried meat, cheese, and crackers to last you at least three days traveling. All told, it comes to 7 guilders.
-
>Wait our turn in line, then pay our bill.
>The three kunai that we left town with the first time, those came from a local weapons dealer? If so, what did he/she charge us for them?
-
>Wait our turn in line, then pay our bill.
>The three kunai that we left town with the first time, those came from a local weapons dealer? If so, what did he/she charge us for them?
>You pay for the supplies you've gathered. You now have 373 guilders.
>They did. If you recall correctly, they cost you around 45 guilders for the set of three.
-
>Then let's go there, and see if they have any more in stock.
-
>Then let's go there, and see if they have any more in stock.
>This next stop takes you much of the way across town to a reputable weapon's dealer. Though this part of the world is fairly peaceful and quiet, you think they still do a good business outfitting the Watch, as well as the more adventurous types that come and go.
>The storefront itself is small, but lined with a multitude of well-crafted weapons in a variety of sizes and styles, scrupulously organized on display racks. It is hard to spot any item even an inch out of alignment. The interior is brightly lit, and you suspect the merchandise has been deliberately positioned so as to maximize the gleam the sun makes upon their keen blades. Quickly scanning the contents of the store, you spot a half-dozen kunai in the style of your own, resting inside a glass display case.
-
>Is the price on them what we remember?
>Look about for a wakizashi.
-
>Is the price on them what we remember?
>Look about for a wakizashi.
>They appear to be priced at 48 per set of three, and 20 each if bought individually.
>You see a trio of wakizashi in slightly different lengths. They range from 165 to 215 guilders each.
-
>Examine what they have in the range of rapiers, dirks, shortspears and twinblades.
-
>Examine what they have in the range of rapiers, dirks, shortspears and twinblades.
>There are a range of slender thrusting swords varying in price from 120 for a plain, if functional design, all the way up to 295 for a highly detailed one with an elaborately styled hilt.
>There is also a small collection of larger non-throwing daggers, ranging from 28 for a simple example to 85 for an almost-decorative one with a finely-tooled sheath.
>As a group, the spears are more uniform and less impressive in detailing. Most of them are essentially the same utilitarian design, and around the 65 guilder mark.
>There is nothing here that you would term a twinblade.
-
>Does our kunai pouch have sufficient space to allow an extra half dozen kunai in addition to the one the Prismrivers recovered for us?
-
>Does our kunai pouch have sufficient space to allow an extra half dozen kunai in addition to the one the Prismrivers recovered for us?
>You think seven is definitely too many, though you could stow the rest in one of the more easily-accessible pouches of your pack for only slightly slower access.
-
Now at this point, I'm tempted to pick up at least one set of kunai, maybe one or two more, because our limited number on the spider quest frustrated me to no end. However, again, we only have so much money. But, we also have at least a couple hours before Yuugi said she'd have our sheathe ready. So, here's what I propose.
Now that we have the prices from this place, we see what work is available at the guildhall. See if anything can be done within a couple hours, for a quick buck. Then when we see Yuugi, we get her prices, and then decide what we want. And if there's nothing available, well, we'll see what happens.
>Back to the guildhall to check the job postings.
-
I like that plan.
>How far off is the guildhall? If not too far, go have a look at the billboard.
-
>How far off is the guildhall? If not too far, go have a look at the billboard.
>Back to the guildhall to check the job postings.
>The guildhall is more or less on the other side of the market district, but you decide that it's as productive a way to pass time as any at the moment. You exit the weapon shop and head back that way.
>As you step inside, Sashiko looks up from shuffling paperwork and shakes her head at you.
>"Nothing's come in for you yet, if that's what you're hoping," she says.
-
>"I suspected as much. But I'm just here to check the board. Got some time on my hands before I gotta meet someone."
>Check the board.
-
>"I suspected as much. But I'm just here to check the board. Got some time on my hands before I gotta meet someone."
>Check the board.
>Sashiko nods. "Sure, got it."
>You step into the common area and take a look at the job board. Aside from the usual notices, you see four individual jobs that were posted today:
>A tavern seeking investigation into the theft of a number of expensive vintage wines.
>Someone looking for a dedicated courier to pick up and ensure the secure delivery of an undisclosed object from Welmark to Braston
>An embroiderer requesting someone locate their lost sign.
>A person seeking a copy of an antique book entitled 'Flora of the Far Isles, by Bartholomew Ranford', and willing to pay top price for it.
-
>How far is it to Welmark from Braston?
>Examine the signs from from the embroiderer and the book-seeker.
-
>How far is it to Welmark from Braston?
>Examine the signs from from the embroiderer and the book-seeker.
>Welmark is medium-sized town on another island in the Outer Freelands to the southeast of Estval. You've been there before, during your apprenticeship. As you recall it, the ferry there took the better part of a day.
>According to the notice from the embroiderer, the sign that usually hangs outside their storefront has been misplaced. You're not entirely certain how this might happen, but the wording seems to press the point that it was not stolen, and there there will be no need to deal with possible criminals or vandals. Perhaps to allay concerns that this is a frivolous request, they have promised a generous reward if it can be returned in good condition.
>The notice from the book-seeker contains almost no further details than the title of the book that they are looking for, and their willingness to pay a very handsome amount for a copy of it.
-
>By any chance, would that sign be the one we used to beat the stuffing out of Yuzu?
>Check contact information for the book-seeker.
-
>By any chance, would that sign be the one we used to beat the stuffing out of Yuzu?
>Check contact information for the book-seeker.
>Not unless the pawn shop you borrowed the sign from was merely a clever front from an embroiderer.
>The notice directs you to an address in the south-central part of Braston.
-
>"Hey, Sashiko. Is Rinnosuke about?"
-
>"Hey, Sashiko. Is Rinnosuke about?"
>"Think so!" she calls back from the entryway.
>"Yeah, he's here," another Seeker in the common area says.
-
>To both or either: "Thanks. Where abouts?"
>Go to the indicated location.
-
>To both or either: "Thanks. Where abouts?"
>Go to the indicated location.
>"Probably in his office," the one closer to you offers.
>As is usual when Rinnosuke is about, the door to his office is open. It is a reasonably-sized space, though always manages to seem cluttered from all the objects on display. As befitting the master of a guild of treasure hunters, Rinnosuke maintains an extensive collection of... uh, well... honestly you've seen little rhyme or reason to the items he collects, though they're often quite unusual or unique in some way; it is not at all uncommon for you to have no idea what some of them even are. Moreover, nearly every time you have set foot in this room, something about its contents seems to be different; either he is forever trading his possessions for different ones, or has a large enough stockpile of eclectica in reserve somewhere to always manage to find something to display that you haven't yet seen.
>Glancing around, you see:
>A small geometric sculpture of interlocking cubes cast in gold, silver, and bronze
>A large jade statuette of a monk kneeling in meditation
>A heavy brass key
>What appears to be a small globe of water magically suspended in the air between two brushed metal discs joined by thin rods of the same material. Little wisps of color swirl within the water.
>A two-pronged knife with small slivers of pale blue crystal inlaid along its inner edge, looking almost reminiscent of a tuning fork
>A small pyramid of black marbles resting on a metal stand;
>A scroll case with an elaborately carved relief of a dragon in gold, coiled around its length
>A surprisingly mundane-looking glass decanter, apparently empty
>A red silken scarf trimmed with tiny bells
>A small flute, carved from ivory
>A small silver figurine of a dove in flight
>A heavy metal helmet capped with an ostentatious blue plume
>A brass spyglass resting on a wooden stand
>A dusty white book with an odd design on its cover
>A jacinth tiger
>A short cross-pointed spear with a white tassal. Several ofuda dangle from it.
>The man himself is indeed inside, bent over a small box on top of his desk. He looks up at you as you enter, and gives a slight nod in your direction.
>"Good morning, Nazrin."
-
>How loudly is our treasure sense pinging right about now?
>"Morning, boss."
>Take a closer look at that dusty book.
-
>How loudly is our treasure sense pinging right about now?
>"Morning, boss."
>Take a closer look at that dusty book.
>You're definitely getting a variety of odd vibes from the stuff in this room, but that's nothing unusual. More than a handful of them certainly have non-obvious properties, but you couldn't discern what they are, or even which items you're sensing them from, without a closer investigation.
>"I hope you slept well," he says.
>You lean over and take a closer look at the book. It is a thin volume, bound in leather. The design on the cover is complex: roughly circular, with threefold symmetry, it consists of wide sweeps and irregular spiraling arcs that somehow manage to form a cohesive and even pleasing design. It looks largely geometric, but some of its curves are almost suggestive of writing, though you do not recognize the script. In fact, you cannot be certain it actually is a script, and not purely ornamentation.
-
>"Well enough. Thanks for askin'."
>Take a closer look at that spear.
>"Never ceases to amaze me, the stuff you have."
-
>"Well enough. Thanks for askin'."
>Take a closer look at that spear.
>"Never ceases to amaze me, the stuff you have."
>He gives a slight nod by way of acknowledgment.
>You take a closer look at the spear. It is not a great deal more than 5 feet in length, and of generally plain construction, though the craftsmanship in it is evident. The spearhead is proportionately long and roughly cross-shaped, with two short blades extending almost at right angles to the main point. A long white tassel hangs from where the spearhead joins the haft, looking rather reminiscent of a mane. The ofuda attached to it strongly suggest some spiritual power within the weapon, though you don't know what that would be.
>"Such curiosities are one of the allures of our profession," he replies.
-
>"It's one of those curiousities I wanted to ask you about, actually. Not about what we talked about the other night, something else."
>"Have you ever heard of a book called... what was it, 'Flora of the Far Isles?'"
-
>"It's one of those curiousities I wanted to ask you about, actually. Not about what we talked about the other night, something else."
>"Have you ever heard of a book called... what was it, 'Flora of the Far Isles?'"
>"That is a very old name," Rinnosuke says, then pauses thoughtfully for a moment. "Ah, yes, I do believe so. That was one of the very early naturalist texts written about the Outer Freelands shortly after their discovery, and long before they were actually called that."
-
>"That's gotta go back... what, a millenia, or so?"
>No wonder it was listed as hard to come by.
-
>"That's gotta go back... what, a millenia, or so?"
>No wonder it was listed as hard to come by.
>Rinnosuke actually looks a little disappointed. "Not nearly that old, certainly. I'm not especially familiar with the work, but I imagine it is 400 years old at most."
>On the other hand, a book printed last year might be hard to come by if there was only one copy made.
-
>"Ah, right. Sorry, had a little trouble with times lately. Kinda got other dates on my mind."
>"So this book...."
>Trail off as we take a closer look at that tuning fork thing.
>"This is interesting. A practical weapon, or does it have some kinda special property?"
-
>"Ah, right. Sorry, had a little trouble with times lately. Kinda got other dates on my mind."
>"So this book...."
>Trail off as we take a closer look at that tuning fork thing.
>"This is interesting. A practical weapon, or does it have some kinda special property?"
>"Of course," he replies.
>You start to inquire further on the topic, but find your attention taken by the unusual tuning fork-like dagger.
>"Ah, this?" Rinnosuke looks towards the item in question. "This is a resonance blade. It induces strong, but transient vibrations in certain materials when it strikes them with sufficient force. I would offer to demonstrate, but given your current situation I wouldn't wish to risk disarming you."
-
>Nod. "Sound concern."
>"So, if you stick someone with it, it makes them... shake?"
-
>Nod. "Sound concern."
>"So, if you stick someone with it, it makes them... shake?"
>"It doesn't work on flesh," he replies. "But it has a quite pronounced effect on metal, and also some on wood, glass, and other materials."
-
>"Interesting little blade ygot here. I might call it more a tool than a weapon, though, but that ain't exactly a bad thing at all. I can think of a few places where something like this'd come in handy."
-
>"Interesting little blade ygot here. I might call it more a tool than a weapon, though, but that ain't exactly a bad thing at all. I can think of a few places where something like this'd come in handy."
>"Indeed."
-
>Based on what we know of his tastes, do we have anything he might be willing to accept from us in a trade for that blade?
-
>Based on what we know of his tastes, do we have anything he might be willing to accept from us in a trade for that blade?
>Honestly, despite all the things you've seen in his possession, you're still not really sure what his taste is. It isn't based purely on monetary value, that's for sure. It would help if an object were interesting in some way, though what he finds 'interesting' is often hard to define. Even largely mundane things have been known to catch his interest from time to time based on some nearly inconsequential facet of their peculiarity.
-
>Inventory.
>"Well, getting back to the issue at hand. You wouldn't happen to have a copy yourself, would you?"
-
>Inventory.
>Kumokirimaru (wrapped in cloth)
>Prism Pendant (around neck)
>Seeker's Badge (pinned to chest)
>373 Val Razuan guilders
>Compass
>Traveling pack
>Traveling rations
>Canteen (empty)
>Lockpicks
>1 kunai
>Picture of Sokrates
>Fuwafuwa Heart Droplet
>Mysterious rusty part
>Antique Val Razuan 1 guilder coin
>Dowsing rods
>Tie-dyed umbrella
>Spool of baling twine
>Bottle of Kumokirimaru-imbued medicine
>Sachet of blessed soil
>List of physicians' contact addresses
>Pencil
>100 feet of rope
>2 glowsticks
>2 torches
>Small heatstone
>Basic grappling hook
>"Well, getting back to the issue at hand. You wouldn't happen to have a copy yourself, would you?"
>"I'm afraid not," he replies. "I cannot say for certain where I would expect to find one outside the library of the Grand Academy, though I imagine other copies still exist."
-
>"Speaking of the Grand Academy...."
>"I've visited most of the names you gave me the other day, but I'm starting to wonder if I may have to leave town to find a cure for myself. Would you know anyone beyond Braston that might be able to help me?"
-
>"Speaking of the Grand Academy...."
>"I've visited most of the names you gave me the other day, but I'm starting to wonder if I may have to leave town to find a cure for myself. Would you know anyone beyond Braston that might be able to help me?"
>"I take it that none of them had any answers to offer you, then?" He frowns slightly. "I inquired with a few contacts of my own this morning, to similar effect. Perhaps not unexpected, but disappointing nonetheless. As for your question, I do not know anyone specifically that I could say in good faith has the cure you seek, but if I were to pick a single place to search, I can think of nowhere better than the Grand Academy. Obscure indeed are the topics that cannot be found in its library. And if it cannot be found even there... well, I suspect at least that the Academy's scholars would be better able to direct your next target than I."
-
>Hate to have to travel that far and spend that much money on a 'maybe.'
>"Nothing closer to home?"
>Does our tracking/treasure sense work on wine?
-
>Hate to have to travel that far and spend that much money on a 'maybe.'
>"Nothing closer to home?"
>Does our tracking/treasure sense work on wine?
>Money's not much use to you if you're dead, but time is an issue. Would be nice to have something more certain to go by before you set out...
>"Nothing is impossible, of course," Rinnosuke says, "But Braston is the major hub of the region. If it cannot be found here, then it is even less likely it can be found anywhere else in the Outer Freelands. Perhaps there is some hedge wizard cloistered in Wynsdale or Northswald who by chance knows of this blight and how to counter it, but you might as well be served by asking door-to-door in this very neighbourhood."
>You wouldn't really be able to douse for it. It's possible it might touch your treasure sense lightly if it were unusually valuable, but you wouldn't be entirely confident of it, and it wouldn't be of much help in finding it, at any rate.
-
>Do we know about how long it takes an average transport ship to reach Val Razua?
>How far is it from here to Northwald?
>How many temples/locations of faith are in Braston?
-
>Do we know about how long it takes an average transport ship to reach Val Razua?
>How far is it from here to Northwald?
>How many temples/locations of faith are in Braston?
>You think the crossing on an average passenger ship takes somewhere on the order of a week.
>You've never been up that way, but you think it's around two day's trip or so.
>There are a scattered few, though Braston itself is not a highly religious city and you don't think any of them are particularly notable in the scheme of things.
-
>We're gonna need a faster boat.
>"Heh. Well, knew this weren't gonna be easy."
>"I gotta ask, boss, while I'm here. That resonance blade. Would you be amiable to trading that, if the right offer came across your desk?"
-
>We're gonna need a faster boat.
>"Heh. Well, knew this weren't gonna be easy."
>"I gotta ask, boss, while I'm here. That resonance blade. Would you be amiable to trading that, if the right offer came across your desk?"
>That would certainly be nice...
>"You wouldn't have come to me at all if you'd expected it to be easy, I imagine," he says. "But persistence has won many unlikely discoveries by our number. Perhaps this will simply be one more."
>His eyebrows raise subtly in what might be either surprise or amusement. "If it were the right offer, I imagine I would be amenable to it by definition, no?"
-
>Chuckle. "Suppose you would."
>"Well, about that only thing I have on me that might fit your collection now is that old coin I showed you earlier, and I doubt that tickles your fancy, eh."
>"Well, the only thing other than Kumokirimaru here, but he and I are kinda inseperable at the moment."
-
>Chuckle. "Suppose you would."
>"Well, about that only thing I have on me that might fit your collection now is that old coin I showed you earlier, and I doubt that tickles your fancy, eh."
>"Well, the only thing other than Kumokirimaru here, but he and I are kinda inseperable at the moment."
>"It is an interesting find," he replies. "But no; I think the resonance blade is far more than its equal."
>He nods. "Of course."
-
>"Speaking of blades, you ever deal much with Yuugi? In terms of her metalwork, I mean."
>"I met her the other day, but I'm wondering now if she's as good at weaponsmithing as I think she might be."
-
>"Speaking of blades, you ever deal much with Yuugi? In terms of her metalwork, I mean."
>"I met her the other day, but I'm wondering now if she's as good at weaponsmithing as I think she might be."
>"I have had occasion to deal with her every now and again," Rinnosuke says. "She is indeed quite skilled in the art, though she tends to work only on things which strike her fancy. Her position affords her a great deal of latitude in that respect."
-
>There's a decent reccomendation.
>"She's actually making the sheathe for my sword here."
>"Which reminds me. May as well check in with her, see if it's done."
-
>There's a decent reccomendation.
>"She's actually making the sheathe for my sword here."
>"Which reminds me. May as well check in with her, see if it's done."
>"Is she now?" Rinnosuke says, raising an eyebrow. "You must have made a good impression. In any case, I won't keep you if you have other matters to attend to."
-
>"She liked the way I handled Yuzu, the oni I got into a scrap with few days ago. Seemed to think getting smacked around by a Seeker was called for, and she liked my gumption."
>Grin. "Matter of fact, she offered to be the first in line if I needed some heads smacked to beat this disease."
-
>"She liked the way I handled Yuzu, the oni I got into a scrap with few days ago. Seemed to think getting smacked around by a Seeker was called for, and she liked my gumption."
>Grin. "Matter of fact, she offered to be the first in line if I needed some heads smacked to beat this disease."
>"Consider it a high honor," Rinnosuke says, a thin smile on his face.
-
>"Oh, I do, believe you me."
>Bid him farewell, then make for... actually, make for the Brass Lantern first, see if that flunky of professor Kamishirasawa's still there.
-
>"Oh, I do, believe you me."
>Bid him farewell, then make for... actually, make for the Brass Lantern first, see if that flunky of professor Kamishirasawa's still there.
>You bid farewell to Rinnosuke, who gives you small nod in return. "Good luck in your endeavors."
>As you turn to exit the room, you feel your elbow bump into something. You glance in that direction, and your eyes widen in alarm as you see the jacinth tiger tumbling from the table where it was displayed. Before you can react, it strikes the floor with a sharp crack and splits in two. You feel a sinking feeling in your gut...
-
Remind me, next time, not to see Rinosuke about any more books.
>Look down at the remains of the tiger.
>"Fuck."
-
>Look down at the remains of the tiger.
>"Fuck."
>You look down at the remains of the jacinth tiger. The break is actually quite clean, but what should be in one piece is still distinctly in two.
>Rinnosuke adjusts his glasses and peers at the remains of his statuette in silence, taking little obvious note of your remark.
-
>Swallow.
>"I, uh... I'm, I'm real sorry, I.... I didn't..."
-
>Swallow.
>"I, uh... I'm, I'm real sorry, I.... I didn't..."
>Rinnosuke frowns, perhaps looking more disappointed than disapproving, or is that just you hoping?
>"That was quite a rare piece," he says. "Antique Rhashavalan. It was quite difficult to find even this one."
-
>Bite our tongue to keep from blowing our top. This is par for the course, isn't it. Just one MORE thing going wrong, on top of everything else. Now not only are we dying, not only did most of Rinosuke's leads turn out to be busts, now this!
-
>Bite our tongue to keep from blowing our top. This is par for the course, isn't it. Just one MORE thing going wrong, on top of everything else. Now not only are we dying, not only did most of Rinosuke's leads turn out to be busts, now this!
>You do your best to keep your emotions simmering safely inside you, though you come to wonder how good a job you're managing at it when Rinnosuke frowns further and asks "Are you alright, Nazrin?"
-
>Emit a couple of choked chuckles, then grin a rather crooked little grin. "Am I alright?" Point at the statue. "I'm a long way from alright. Feels like YEARS since I've been alright. This is.... icing on the cake, isn't it. Just me spreading my misery to friends and coworkers. Misery loves company, right. 'Send Marisa off to clean up your mess, Nazrin', 'Shatter your bosses' priceless ancient statue, Nazrin'."
>Blink back the hot tears in our eyes. "'Do as much damage as you can before you die, Nazrin...'"
-
>Emit a couple of choked chuckles, then grin a rather crooked little grin. "Am I alright?" Point at the statue. "I'm a long way from alright. Feels like YEARS since I've been alright. This is.... icing on the cake, isn't it. Just me spreading my misery to friends and coworkers. Misery loves company, right. 'Send Marisa off to clean up your mess, Nazrin', 'Shatter your bosses' priceless ancient statue, Nazrin'."
>Blink back the hot tears in our eyes. "'Do as much damage as you can before you die, Nazrin...'"
>Rinnosuke's face falls ashen as you let loose just a little of the turbulent emotions churning within you. This should have been a great week. You'd been building towards this week for years. This was supposed to be it! The real deal. And now it really may be it - all that there is left. Dammit, dammit, dammi-
>"I'm terrible sorry," Rinnosuke interjects, a genuinely remorseful expression on his face. "Please do not let yourself be troubled over this. You caused no harm, nor was it your fault in the first place."
-
>Take a moment to try and calm ourselves. Ichirin was different, but you're NOT gonna appear like this to Rinosuke, Nazrin!
>"No, don't.... don't apologize, I...." Sniff. "How can I make it up to you?"
-
>Take a moment to try and calm ourselves. Ichirin was different, but you're NOT gonna appear like this to Rinosuke, Nazrin!
>"No, don't.... don't apologize, I...." Sniff. "How can I make it up to you?"
>You pull yourself back together, resolving not to let yourself look this way to anyone else.
>He gives a gentle smile. "By forgiving me my foolishness." And with that, he walks over to where the broken jacinth tiger rests on the ground and puts his hands together in a pose that reminds you of a meditative seal. He speaks a single word: "A'havra."
>The statuette flies back together, looking every bit as unbroken as it did when you stepped into the room.
-
>Blink. Blink.
>"How'd you DO that?"
-
>Blink. Blink.
>"How'd you DO that?"
>"Oh, I'm afraid I didn't do anything," he says, smiling slightly, "though I imagine it would be quite a convenient ability to possess. But no, that display rests purely within the figure's own power. I merely spoke a command word."
>He bends down and picks up the statuette then sets it back on the table where it rested a few moments ago.
>"I feel I should also inform you that it was no act of clumsiness on your part that sent it to the ground. It is..." He frowns a little. "I suppose one might call it a curse, in some senses. The tiger has a tendency to move itself while one's eyes are averted, in an effort to cause unwitting passersby to topple it."
-
>Blink again.
>Burst out laughing.
-
>Blink again.
>Burst out laughing.
>You blink, and then burst out laughing, quickly dispelling the atmosphere that had filled the room mere moments before. Rinnosuke gives you an almost sheepish look.
>"I do hope you'll forgive my insensitivity," he says.
-
>Laugh, then wipe a tear away. Give Rino a grin.
>"Forgive me for popping off like I did, and we'll call it even."
>"But I gotta ask, where'd you find a thing like that? Statue with... curse, like that, there's gotta be a story there."
-
>Laugh, then wipe a tear away. Give Rino a grin.
>"Forgive me for popping off like I did, and we'll call it even."
>"But I gotta ask, where'd you find a thing like that? Statue with... curse, like that, there's gotta be a story there."
>You laugh and then give Rinnosuke a grin. Man, that feels better.
>"Very well," he says, returning a much fainter version of your expression.
>He nods. "As odd as it may seem, this behavior is by design, in fact. It was created by an obscure sect of Rhashavalan monks as a way to test people's honesty and sense of duty. What would a passerby do when they realized they had shattered such an obviously valuable object, even if by accident? Would they offer to reimburse the owner? Would they ignore it and quickly withdraw? Would they deny involvement if confronted? It is an intriguing item, though I'm not certain how much it was ever used in practice."
-
>"It doesn't take to following people, does it?"
-
>"What kind of order would make something like that?"
>What do we know about Rasheval?
-
>"It doesn't take to following people, does it?"
>"I don't believe it's capable of moving very far from its original position," he says. "At least I've never seen it do so."
>"What kind of order would make something like that?"
>What do we know about Rasheval?
>"A very peculiar one, no doubt. Little is known about them now, I think"
>Quite little, honestly. You know it is a significant and very old kingdom to the far west, but travel between it and the central nations is quite limited; the only available routes cut through deep parts of the Wild Lands, which is a quite sufficient impediment to trade relations. What few goods manage to make their way from there are often worth a very substantial amount.
-
>"You ever been out that way, boss?"
-
>"You ever been out that way, boss?"
>"Not for a great many years," he replies.
-
>"Tell me a little about it. Ynever know, I may end up there myself, one day, once this affair is over. Like to know what it's like."
-
>"Tell me a little about it. Ynever know, I may end up there myself, one day, once this affair is over. Like to know what it's like."
>He pauses to consider a moment before answering. "Rhashaval is a land of ancient and unbroken tradition, and it wears this history on every stone. When there, one sometimes gets the sense that people go about their business as though there were simply carrying out their role in a larger tapestry, as things have always been and always will be. Take that as you will. It is a deeply spiritual land, though, and the some of its temples are masterworks of architecture. In many ways, they surpass even Val Razua, though their styles are quite distinct. In Val Razua, architecture exists to celebrate art and glorify the wealth and magnanimity of its patrons. In Rhashaval, it sometimes feel more like an act of reverence, a completion of what was ordained should exist. Though it would be remiss of me to imply that the line of Emperors were above self-glorification. If Rhashaval is a land that reveres tradition, then theirs is the most ancient of all, or so they would like you to believe. Still, it is an exotic land of exotic foods and art and culture that can rarely if ever be found on this side of the world. It is also very hot," he adds, in a slightly less generous tone.
-
>Note to self: Pack a fan.
And Letty.
>"A place that holds its past in such high regard could have a lot of use for a Seeker, finding one or two bits of history that might have got lost along the way."
>"So that tricksy little statue. That the only little treasure you got from there?"
-
>Note to self: Pack a fan. And Letty.
>"A place that holds its past in such high regard could have a lot of use for a Seeker, finding one or two bits of history that might have got lost along the way."
>"So that tricksy little statue. That the only little treasure you got from there?"
>Good luck convincing a Yuki-onna to travel to a land without snowfall!
>"Less so than perhaps you might think," he replies, "but I'm sure a resourceful Seeker could still find work for themselves."
>"I've picked up a few items here and there over the years," he says.
-
>Oh, I'm sure we can convince her.... And if not, get duct tape and a car.
>Bet you have...
>Travel time between here and there's gotta be beyond our alloted time, and even if Val Razua is the center of magic and knowledge and all that jazz, even that's at least a week away. Or is it?
>"You wouldn't be acquainted with any captains with fast ships, by any chance, wouldja?"
-
>Oh, I'm sure we can convince her.... And if not, get duct tape and a car.
>Bet you have...
>Travel time between here and there's gotta be beyond our alloted time, and even if Val Razua is the center of magic and knowledge and all that jazz, even that's at least a week away. Or is it?
>"You wouldn't be acquainted with any captains with fast ships, by any chance, wouldja?"
>Acquiring a car might actually prove more difficult than the problem you are attempting to solve by using one
>You swear he leaves more unsaid than he ever actually says...
>Rhashaval is substantially further away than Val Razua, and a significant portion of the journey must be done overland. Even without the hazards along the way, you imagine it would take several weeks for certain.
>"I have been acquainted with a few captains in my time," he says, "and one might perhaps term some of their ships fast, though I fear I cannot give you the answer you're hoping for. You are thinking about passage to Val Razua, yes?"
-
>Nod. "One thing I've been told over and over about this blight of mine is that it's exotic and strange. It's possible that a cure simply doesn't exist on this island. A place like Val Razua would seem a decent place to look for answers about anything 'exotic'. Trouble is, I don't think I have the time to take the normal boat to get there. I know I've said two weeks, but really, that was Minoriko being optimistic. I may have as little as a week- Less now. If I do have to leave the island, find a cure in Val Razua, or somewhere else, then I need to get there as fast as possible."
>Other than Val Razua and Rasheval, what other major sources of civilization do we know of beyond this island?
-
>Nod. "One thing I've been told over and over about this blight of mine is that it's exotic and strange. It's possible that a cure simply doesn't exist on this island. A place like Val Razua would seem a decent place to look for answers about anything 'exotic'. Trouble is, I don't think I have the time to take the normal boat to get there. I know I've said two weeks, but really, that was Minoriko being optimistic. I may have as little as a week- Less now. If I do have to leave the island, find a cure in Val Razua, or somewhere else, then I need to get there as fast as possible."
>Rinnosuke nods. "I understand, of course. Unfortunately, even if I were to call in a contact, you might well already be to Val Razua through traditional means by the time they could arrive. Some of them can be rather... difficult to track down."
>Other than Val Razua and Rasheval, what other major sources of civilization do we know of beyond this island?
>Aside from Val Razua, two other major nations occupy the central islands of Gensokyo: The Hanashibara Federated Republic, and the Empire of Higan.
>Hanashibara is both the largest and most populous of the three, spanning a substantial portion of the land south of Val Razua, as well as smaller island chains alongside it. It is the homeland of the kappa, and famous for its technological innovations. Unfortunately, it shares most of its western border with the Wild Lands and is the only one of the three nations exposed in this way. Despite this, you hear it's actually quite a pleasant place, even if it lacks the wealth and ostentation of Val Razua.
>Beyond the southern border of Hanashibara lies the Empire of Higan. Despite the name, they are actually the smallest of the three nations - you have the impression this was not always the case - but the discipline of their soldiers is renowned and affords them considerable influence. Its capital lies on a famously impregnable fortress-island off the southern edge of the mainland; naturally inaccessible by air, it is connected to the rest of Gensokyo by a massive bridge spanning the sky between the capital and the mainland, still considered one of the greatest feats of civil engineering in the world. Higan has something of a reputation for firm and unyielding governance, alternately regarded as commendable or regrettable depending on who you ask. You have a vague sense that there is some antagonism between Higan and Val Razua; while Braston is largely autonomous in a day-to-day sense, it still maintains some colonial ties with Val Razua and you've more than once heard people speak of Higan in unpleasant tones. That being said, it's certainly nothing approaching the level of open hostilities as far as you're aware.
>You know Higan and Hanashibara are closely allied, but despite this you've never heard people talk about the latter with the same sense of tension as the former; the details of politics in general isn't something you're honestly very well informed on.
>Besides these three, far to the north of Val Razua lies the isolated island nation of Meijima. You don't know a great deal about it, although you've heard that the entire island sometimes drifts off charted airship routes, becoming inaccessible for decades at a time. On the international stage, they tend to keep to their own affairs, though are open to visitors, as far as you know.
>You suppose that the Tengu lands could also count, but their territory is closed to outsiders and they play little role in international politics. About the most contact anyone has with them is a rare visit from a merchant vessel trading rarities from their homeland. Or the occasional pirate.
-
>Pirates?
>Do the oni have a 'homeland', like the kappa and the tengu do?
>Chuckle. "Had to ask. I might check out the port anywhere, just to see what's there."
>Glance around, then grin. "Got anything else lying around here that's gonna jump out at me?"
-
>Pirates?
>Do the oni have a 'homeland', like the kappa and the tengu do?
>Chuckle. "Had to ask. I might check out the port anywhere, just to see what's there."
>Glance around, then grin. "Got anything else lying around here that's gonna jump out at me?"
>While not generally a major problem, pirates do sometimes prey on shipping between the major nations and outlying areas. Of these, the tengu tend to be the most notable. Tengu are superlative pilots, and their ships are faster and more maneuverable than those used by other races. Which means they tend not to get caught. You imagine it probably helps that they seem to consider themselves above everyone else, too....
>You aren't entirely sure, now that you stop to think of it. As far as you know, Braston is actually home to the largest oni population in Gensokyo, though they clearly didn't originate from here given the town's relatively recent settlement. Certainly, there is no 'oni nation' that you know of. For that matter, Hanashibara isn't really a 'kappa nation', though kappa are common within it; you're fairly sure that humans are still more numerous than any other race.
>Rinnosuke nods. "A sensible idea. I have confidence in your investigative abilities."
>He returns a faint smile. "I do not believe so, no."
-
>Does that pirate activity extend to passenger ships between here and, well, anywhere else, as far as we know? That'd be the last thing we need.
-
>Does that pirate activity extend to passenger ships between here and, well, anywhere else, as far as we know? That'd be the last thing we need.
>Passenger ships don't generally have much worth risking stealing compared to merchant vessels or freighters carrying large amounts of hiirokane or orichalcum, and pirates aren't in the habit of holding crews ransom. Besides, if they tried it then they probably would get caught. In truth, while piracy exists, it is far from rampant and not something that is usually even worried about when traveling from point A to B.
-
>Bid farewell to Rinosuke, then go have another look at the job posting board for contact info on the embroiderer and the tavern with the missing wine.
>Make a guess at the time. Head to Yuugi's if we think it's time to rendevous with her.
>If we still have the time, swing by the messanger service in town. Minoriko might know about that old book, let's send her a letter asking.
-
>Bid farewell to Rinosuke, then go have another look at the job posting board for contact info on the embroiderer and the tavern with the missing wine.
>Make a guess at the time. Head to Yuugi's if we think it's time to rendevous with her.
>If we still have the time, swing by the messanger service in town. Minoriko might know about that old book, let's send her a letter asking.
>You again bid farewell to Rinnosuke, and this time manage to make it outside his office without knocking anything over. You return to the job board and note the relevant contact addresses, then head outside.
>Yuugi did say afternoonish, and it's pretty much on the cusp of afternoon now. You decide that's good enough and go check in with her.
>The north of the city has a very different character at this time of day. There are still plenty of oni about, to be sure, but they are more industrious than carousing, and the streets also bustle with humans. Mining may be an oni domain, but it and the industries that support it employ a substantial part of the city's population. For the moment, the quarter is free of drunken revels and sudden fistfights and the need for cautious hasty travel; it's almost like another city entirely.
>The lack of smoke and smells of forging coming from Yuugi's draws a slight frown as you approach. Hopefully she didn't mean the other edge of afternoon? You take another look at the sun and then decide to step inside just the same.
>As you had feared, the smithy is unoccupied and its forge cold. It's amazing how much less oppressive the room feels without that thing belching heat into the tiny space. Otherwise, it looks quite similar to how it did yesterday, aside from a slight rearranging of some of its contents. And, more notably, a leather scabbard resting on one of the workbenches. There appears to be a small note next to it.
-
>Read the note.
>Keep a sharp ear open for Yuugi, in case she's lurking about somewheres.
>Do we still get the same treasure sense we did yesterday?
-
>Read the note.
>You walk over to the workbench and take a look at the note. It is only a few words long, written in a coarse scrawl:
>"Had business to take care of. Left this here for you. Go kick ass. -Yuugi"
>Keep a sharp ear open for Yuugi, in case she's lurking about somewheres.
>Do we still get the same treasure sense we did yesterday?
>There isn't really anywhere to lurk about in this smithy, certain not when you're as towering a figure as Yuugi is. You hear nothing.
>It feels more or less unchanged, as best you can remember.
-
>Any indication of a price involved here?
>Pick up the sheathe.
>Take a closer look at the weapons in plain sight around here, see how their quality matches up with what we saw back at the shop.
-
>Any indication of a price involved here?
>Pick up the sheathe.
>Take a closer look at the weapons in plain sight around here, see how their quality matches up with what we saw back at the shop.
>None that you can see.
>You pick up the sheath. It is of very plain design, but it does look like the dimensions and curvature at least approximately match Kumokirimaru's
>You examine a few of the weapons that you can see and compare them with those from the weapon shop from earlier. While those at the shop were certainly not bad - in fact, they were of solid quality - you definitely feel that the craftsmanship on display here matches their top-end work at the very least. Unfortunately, most of what you can see are very obviously works in progress - blades without mountings, part of what appear to be a pair of spiked gauntlets, and so forth.
-
>Best not experiment with the scabbard when we're alone, so keep the blade in hand for now. Well, tail, use our hands to belt on the scabbard.
>Do we know if Yuugi has a store in town?
>Take a close look at the weapons setting off our treasure sense, and memorize that sensation, so we can recognize it in the future.
-
>Best not experiment with the scabbard when we're alone, so keep the blade in hand for now. Well, tail, use our hands to belt on the scabbard.
>Do we know if Yuugi has a store in town?
>Take a close look at the weapons setting off our treasure sense, and memorize that sensation, so we can recognize it in the future.
>Juggling the sword between appendages, you don the scabbard.
>You do not.
>You take a closer look at the weapons to be more certain of what you're sensing and where you're sensing it from. On closer inspection, you're quite certain there is an appreciable amount of orichalcum in the greataxe - one of the few pieces that appears finished - and likely at least some in several of the other weapon components. This probably accounts for most of what you're sensing, though you think there may be something else that's hard to put into words. You do your best to memorize the sensation.
-
>Flip over the note, and write, "I'll kick one for you, too." Then put it back where we found it.
>Depart, and, making sure there's someone on the street in case we fall over black in the face, place the blade in the sheathe. But don't take our hand off the hilt.
-
>Flip over the note, and write, "I'll kick one for you, too." Then put it back where we found it.
>Depart, and, making sure there's someone on the street in case we fall over black in the face, place the blade in the sheathe. But don't take our hand off the hilt.
>You flip over the note and add your own comment to it, then return it to where you found it.
>You exit the smithy and position yourself within sight of passersby; this isn't especially difficult to do at this time of day. Then you unwrap the blade from its increasingly tattered covering, take a deep breath, and slide the naked blade into the sheath. Nothing in particular appears to happen, nor do you feel any different for this gesture. Absently, you note that the fit is a touch on the loose side, but pretty good considering the sword itself wasn't on-hand when the sheath was being crafted.
-
>Rest our left hand on the hilt, then remove our right hand.
-
>Rest our left hand on the hilt, then remove our right hand.
>You place your left hand on the hilt and remove your right. Nothing appears to happen.
-
>With our hand, or elbow, whichever's more comfortable, resting on the hilt, head towards the Brass Lantern to see if that woman from the arch crew is still in.
-
>With our hand, or elbow, whichever's more comfortable, resting on the hilt, head towards the Brass Lantern to see if that woman from the arch crew is still in.
>Keeping your hand on the hilt, you proceed south towards the Brass Lantern.
>After a short while, it becomes clear that this new arrangement is quite a bit more awkward than holding the sword freely had been this past little while. Try as you might, there seems to be no way to truly compensate for the reduced range of motion. It's fine enough for short periods, but you suspect that if you need to go around like this all the time, your arm is going to end up seriously cramped.
>Soon enough, you find yourself outside the inn once more.
-
>Enter and ask the receptionist if Sasha, that woman from the excavation, is still in.
-
>Enter and ask the receptionist if Sasha, that woman from the excavation, is still in.
>You enter and in ask the receptionist if Sasha is still in.
>"I think she left to go back to the dig early this morning," she replies, then gives a little sheepish smile. "People stay here long enough, you start to know their routines."
-
>"Didn't mention anything about her boss coming back this way, did she?"
-
>"Didn't mention anything about her boss coming back this way, did she?"
>She shakes her head. "I didn't really speak with her, sorry."
-
>"'s fine. Thanks."
>Back to the guildhall. If she's gone, maybe she left a message with Sashiko while we've been out.
EDIT:
>No, wait. Head back to that weapon shop, pick up a set of three kunai, THEN go check in with Sashiko.
-
>"'s fine. Thanks."
>Back to the guildhall. If she's gone, maybe she left a message with Sashiko while we've been out.
>No, wait. Head back to that weapon shop, pick up a set of three kunai, THEN go check in with Sashiko.
>She repeats that sheepish smile. "Sorry."
>You start to head back to the guildhall, but decide to detour to the weapon shop instead and purchase the set of kunai that you examined earlier today. Unsurprisingly, their inventory has not moved in the past hour or so, and you complete the purchase without incident, departing the shop 48 guilders poorer and 3 kunai richer - an equitable trade if you can manage not to expend these as quickly as the last set. Then you return to the guildhall.
>Sashiko gives a quick nod to you as you enter, then turns her attention back to whatever it was she was working on a moment before.
-
>"Still no messages for me?"
>How hungry are we feeling?
-
>"Still no messages for me?"
>How hungry are we feeling?
>Sashiko grins a little. "Getting antsy, are you? But nope, nothing. Sorry."
>You didn't have a very copious breakfast, so a decent lunch certainly wouldn't go astray.
-
>Then let's avail ourselves of the guild's larder.
-
>Then let's avail ourselves of the guild's larder.
>You head towards the guild's kitchen to scrounge up lunch for yourself. As is typical of this time of day, there are multiple apprentices and even a full Seeker or two already here, either in the process of preparing themselves lunch or eating it. Despite the number of people who use the facility, the guild doesn't employ a cook, instead expecting people to take care of their own meals; self-reliance is one of the key traits they try to foster, after all. It doesn't necessarily foster good cooking skill, but at least you get used to doing things for yourself.
>You exchange a few brief greetings, and then root through the pantry. It is usually well-supplied - they may expect you to cook, but they do at least provide the food - but the food gets eaten through and restocked often enough that you can never be quite sure what you'll find. Still, it isn't hard to rummage up something you wouldn't mind eating.
>You find part of a cured ham in the icebox, and fresh bread and cheese , and set to making yourself a sandwich. Cutting the ham and bread is a surprisingly awkward task with only one hand able to move freely, though you do your best to somehow position one limb to rest on Kumokirimaru and secure the ham in place at the same time.
>"Expecting an ambush to leap out at you from the cupboards?" a nearby apprentices asks, himself in the process of getting lunch. Evidently your display was less subtle than you'd hoped.
-
>Quip back, "I've had stranger things happen."
>Screw it, now's as good a time as any.
>Release Kumoru, but keep our hand micrometers away from it in case we feel any deliterious effects.
-
>Quip back, "I've had stranger things happen."
>Screw it, now's as good a time as any.
>Release Kumoru, but keep our hand micrometers away from it in case we feel any deliterious effects.
>"Everyone would have to be getting awfully slack to let someone to slip in here, don't you think?" His tone is friendly and mild. "Unless one of the instructors got it in their mind to torment us poor students, I guess."
>You decide now is as good a time as any to see how necessary this really is. You release your contact with the hilt ever so slightly and brace yourself. You're.... pretty sure you don't feel any differently than you did a moment ago. Right? Certainly nothing obvious happens.
-
>"I can think of someone that sure would..."
>That'd have you written over it, Mari. Heck, now you've even got Honey to sneak into small places.
>Take a few moments to ensure taking our hand off the blade isn't at least going to immediately kill us, then continue lunch preparations.
-
>"I can think of someone that sure would..."
>That'd have you written over it, Mari. Heck, now you've even got Honey to sneak into small places.
>Take a few moments to ensure taking our hand off the blade isn't at least going to immediately kill us, then continue lunch preparations.
>"I'd still like to think I could see it coming, but what do I know, eh?" He gives a little smile and goes back to chopping his tomato.
>Marisa never did much actual formal instruction - she was always far too on the go to be stable for it - but you have to imagine that if she ever does some day, her teaching methods would be... unorthodox. And possibly terrifying. You wonder whether the guildhall would survive them.
>You take a few more moments to process any unusual sensations and convince yourself that you aren't about to collapse in convulsions at any moment. Nothing appears to happen. In fact, you cannot sense any change at all that isn't attributable to justified paranoia. Eventually, you feel mostly satisfied that you're okay, at least for the moment. You finish up your sandwich.
-
>Find a piece of fruit to add to our meal, and a drink, then sit and munch.
>Do we feel any different when the hilt isn't touching our torso?
-
>Find a piece of fruit to add to our meal, and a drink, then sit and munch.
>Do we feel any different when the hilt isn't touching our torso?
>You find a pear, and pour yourself a glass of orange juice, then sit down at a table and start to eat lunch.
>Not as far as you can notice. At least, you're pretty sure there's no difference...
-
>Keep our ears open for anyone talking about the jobs currently posted. Or for anyone talking about someone with a fast ship.
-
>Keep our ears open for anyone talking about the jobs currently posted. Or for anyone talking about someone with a fast ship.
>You keep your ears peeled while you eat in the hope of hearing something you can use. Unfortunately, the conversation in the room seems to be mostly small talk, or discussion of past and upcoming work assigned to the apprentices. One or two of the job postings does come up in passing, but no one says anything about them you don't already know or surmise. No one mentions ships at all.
-
>Finish eating.
>Grab a piece of fruit for the road, then head to the tavern with the stolen wines.
-
>Finish eating.
>Grab a piece of fruit for the road, then head to the tavern with the stolen wines.
>You finish your meal, then grab another pear for the road and head out to investigate the stolen wines.
>This tavern is located far from oni territory, near the heart of the commercial district. It's also a rather obviously more classy establishment; the the dining area is spacious and the furniture well-crafted, with a simple yet tasteful aesthetic of dark-stained wood accented by wrought iron filigree. A display behind the bar showcases a a variety of drinks in an array of differently shaped bottles. This is clearly a far cry from some of the dives you've seen.
>At the moment, there are several patrons dining, though the establishment seems only sparsely populated at the moment. A middle-aged woman is sitting behind the bar, idly watching the room.
-
>Swanky. Smell for cheese with the wines.
>Approach the woman. "I'm from the Seekers. I understand there was a request put in at the guildhall?"
-
>Swanky. Smell for cheese with the wines.
>Approach the woman. "I'm from the Seekers. I understand there was a request put in at the guildhall?"
>You think you may smell a little coming from somewhere, anyway.
>She glances at your badge. "Yeah, that's right." She jerks her head towards a door behind her. "Want to step back here for a bit?"
-
>"Of course." Follow the lady.
>Does our treasure sense work on wines?
-
>"Of course." Follow the lady.
>The woman nods and walks into the back. You follow after her into a hallway running behind the bar. You can spot the kitchen off to your left, and also hear and smell it. Hmmm.... pasta with mushroom sauce, and grilled chicken. Also cabbage rolls.
>"Daisuke!" the woman calls out towards it. "Take front for a few minutes."
>You hear a "Sure!" call out to answer her. Without breaking stride, the woman leads you past the kitchen and into a small office, then shuts the door behind you as you enter.
>"So," she says, turning to you. "It's like I said in the notice. We lost a whole case of the pricey stuff right out of our storeroom, and I don't know how. The place doesn't look broken into, and there's only one person besides me that has the key, and she wasn't even here that day."
>Does our treasure sense work on wines?
>Not generally, no. It's possible that an especially valuable one might give off a slight vibe, but you aren't certain.
-
>"Is that why you went to the Seekers instead of the Watch?"
>"I assume you both still have your keys, neither one of them's gone missing?"
-
>"Is that why you went to the Seekers instead of the Watch?"
>"I assume you both still have your keys, neither one of them's gone missing?"
>"Yes and yes," she replies.
-
>"I also assume you've spoken to the other woman involved here about the issue, and that she has a solid alibi?"
-
>"I also assume you've spoken to the other woman involved here about the issue, and that she has a solid alibi?"
>"I'm comfortable it isn't her," she says, her expression firm.
-
>"Alright, just covering all our bases."
>Still might be worth checking out.
>"What about the previous owners, if there are any. Might they still have keys to the place?"
-
>"Alright, just covering all our bases."
>Still might be worth checking out.
>"What about the previous owners, if there are any. Might they still have keys to the place?"
>She gives you a curt nod.
>Just because she's satisfied (or at least claims to be) doesn't mean that you are. Wouldn't be the first time someone was wrong about an employee's trustworthiness.
>She shakes her head. "Nope. Locks were changed years back."
-
>We know how to pick locks. Could we do it and leave no visible trace on the lock in question?
>"Mind if I have a look at the room?"
-
>We know how to pick locks. Could we do it and leave no visible trace on the lock in question?
>"Mind if I have a look at the room?"
>Even if you're good, picking a lock usually leaves some internal scratching in places that keys wouldn't touch; you could generally tell on a close examination. Of course, you wouldn't expect someone without experience of their own to be able to detect this, unless a rank amateur went at it with a screwdriver or something.
>"Of course," she says, nodding. "This way." With barely a pause, she exits the office.
-
>Follow the lady.
>Do we know how difficult it is to duplicate a key based on memory?
-
>Follow the lady.
>You follow the woman as she leads you back towards the kitchen and then takes a different turn ending in a heavy wooden door. She produces a small key from her pocket and opens it, then leads you down a rather extended series of cramped stairs, doubling back on each other several times as they descend deeper. The air cools noticeably as you proceed. Eventually you arrive in the wine cellar.
>It is a very neatly arranged space, though the construction is rudimentary and coarse, with little more than packed earth and support beams for walls. A couple of lanterns hang from the ceiling beams, shedding soft light on the space. Within it are several filled wine racks, along with a multitude of wooden crates and barrels, both large and small. Several large sacks are piled against one corner of the room.
>"It was right here," she says, gesturing towards the top of a small stack of crates. "And then the other day it wasn't."
>Do we know how difficult it is to duplicate a key based on memory?
>Constructing an functional reproduction of a key based only on memory of having handled it would be essentially out of the question, as far as you understand things. Unless the lock was extremely crude, but this one did not appear to be so. Perhaps if one had taken precise and detailed measurements beforehand, but even that would require a high degree of skill.
-
>Examine the lock for signs of disturbance.
>"This room have any tunnels, secret passages, that sort of thing?"
>Are there any signs of mice down here?
-
>Examine the lock for signs of disturbance.
>"This room have any tunnels, secret passages, that sort of thing?"
>Are there any signs of mice down here?
>You go all the way back upstairs and take a closer look at the lock, while the proprietor looms over you. As best you can tell, there is no indication that it was picked or forced open in any manner that would leave a trace.
>"Of course not," she replies curtly, giving you something of a mild scowl. "It's a wine cellar, not a smuggler's hideaway."
>None that you can tell.
-
>"You'd be surprised what sort of things you can find..."
>Head back down and check the walls for secret passages.
>"You ever had mice down here?" In expectation of the strange look, "Humor me."
-
>"You'd be surprised what sort of things you can find..."
>Head back down and check the walls for secret passages.
>"You ever had mice down here?" In expectation of the strange look, "Humor me."
>"I suppose that is your business," she says.
>You head back downstairs. How do you intend to check them?
>"No, I keep the place tidy," she replies, then seems to hesitate. "No offense."
-
>Check for loose stones, suspicious looking patches of earth, odd colorations in the wood, anything that looks out of place.
>"So the crate was here when you closed up shop two days ago, and then missing when you opened up yesterday?"
-
>Check for loose stones, suspicious looking patches of earth, odd colorations in the wood, anything that looks out of place.
>"So the crate was here when you closed up shop two days ago, and then missing when you opened up yesterday?"
>The bare construction of the walls leaves little room to conceal things, but you inspect them nonetheless. The proprietor gives you a rather dismissive scowl as you work your way around the room, but doesn't interrupt. However, even upon a careful examination, no patches of earth seem suspicious or are less firm than you would expect, and the wood seems in fine shape. Everything seems fine and mundane, although the crates and such piled about the room mean that you don't get a chance to truly examine the entirety of the cellar walls. You do cover most of them, though.
>"Worse than that," she says. "It was here when I opened two days ago, and then gone when I came down later that same evening."
-
>"About what time of day did you notice it missing, and how long since you saw it before then?"
>"Is the front door the only way in our out of the building?"
>Can our extrasensory perception detect trace amounts of magic?
-
>"About what time of day did you notice it missing, and how long since you saw it before then?"
>"Is the front door the only way in our out of the building?"
>Can our extrasensory perception detect trace amounts of magic?
>"I noticed it missing around 8 PM," she says. "I'd been down here that morning, so let's say.... 9 hours or so?"
>"There's a staff entrance around the back, but I don't see how it matters considering there's only one way down here."
>Passively, it would likely take a fair bit more than trace amounts to feel. If you were to dowse, you expect you could detect anything that wasn't extremely subtle, given a little time and care.
-
>"Obviously somebody, or something, got in here, so it'd be good to know how they snuck the goods out without being seen. And, for that matter, why only one crate went missing."
>"I'm gonna see if there's any kind of magic down here, see if there's a mage at work here. Bear with me a minute or two."
>Produce our dowsing rods and scan for magical residue, taking the time to do it right.
-
>"Obviously somebody, or something, got in here, so it'd be good to know how they snuck the goods out without being seen. And, for that matter, why only one crate went missing."
>"I'm gonna see if there's any kind of magic down here, see if there's a mage at work here. Bear with me a minute or two."
>Produce our dowsing rods and scan for magical residue, taking the time to do it right.
>"I wondered that, too," she says. "They took some of our best stuff, though. Maybe they could only smuggle one case out?"
>She nods. "Do what you need to."
>You produce your dowsing rods and start to carefully scan for any traces of magic, being very slow and methodical. You can sense a variety of magical auras from the surrounding neighbourhood, be they from enchanted items for sale in the market or a scattered magician practicing their craft. Most of them probably mundane, and all of them too far away to be relevant. You draw your focus inward and tune out the noise. Despite your rigor, this room itself seems quite free of any magic you can sense, aside from the lanterns, of course. However, you do start to note something just a little odd after a while. It's a bit hard to tell, and you probably would have missed it if you weren't being so careful, but something about the resonances feels slightly different in one direction. On closer investigation, you think something is different about the earth itself in that direction.
-
>Mutter, "That's odd..."
>Is there anything about the earth in that direction that seems visually different from its surroundings?
>Can we discern the nature of the sensation?
-
>Mutter, "That's odd..."
>Is there anything about the earth in that direction that seems visually different from its surroundings?
>Can we discern the nature of the sensation?
>"What's odd?" the proprietor asks.
>Not that you can see, though it's not all exposed.
>It feels... less dense, you think.
-
>"I'm getting something... odd, about that patch of earth." Point to the area with our tail.
>Can we discern if there's a living being behind or around that earth?
-
>"I'm getting something... odd, about that patch of earth." Point to the area with our tail.
>Can we discern if there's a living being behind or around that earth?
>"Huh?" She looks at it, then back at you, her brow furrowed. "Odd how?"
>Dowsing isn't very effective on organic material, and people are plenty organic. You don't know that you could tell, unless they were radiating magic or wearing metal or something.
-
>"I'm not certain. Seems... thinner, somehow."
>Put away our dowsing rods, then approach the patch in question, hand resting on Kumoru.
-
>"I'm not certain. Seems... thinner, somehow."
>Put away our dowsing rods, then approach the patch in question, hand resting on Kumoru.
>"Thinner?" She screws up her face. "What's that even supposed to mean?"
>You put away your dowsing rods then approach that part of the wall, keeping your hand near your blade. Nothing bursts out at you from the kegs, at least.
-
>"Like the earth in this part of the wall isn't as dense as its surroundings."
-
>"Like the earth in this part of the wall isn't as dense as its surroundings."
>"Should be more or less the same as everywhere else," she says, "And besides, what does that matter?" she asks in a slightly more irritated tone. She glances at your hand resting on Kumokirimaru, and frowns slightly.
-
>"I'm not sure what it matters. Yet."
>Glance back. "Don't mind the sword, I'm just not taking any chances."
>Draw Kumoru and poke the thin earth once, lightly.
-
>"I'm not sure what it matters. Yet."
>Glance back. "Don't mind the sword, I'm just not taking any chances."
>Draw Kumoru and poke the thin earth once, lightly.
>She frowns further, but makes no attempt to interrupt as you draw your sword and poke the wall lightly. It feels perfectly solid and normal as far as you can tell from the brief contact.
-
>No spiders popping out the wall. That's a step up already.
>Can we reach that wall with our hand? If so, reach out and touch it.
-
>No spiders popping out the wall. That's a step up already.
>Can we reach that wall with our hand? If so, reach out and touch it.
>You've spent more than enough time dealing with subterranean nastiness this week. Another spider is the last thing you need right now.
>The wall is easily within reach. You place your hand on it. It feels like perfectly mundane packed dirt.
-
>Back off and take out our rods again. See if we can discern how thin it is, what may have caused this thinness, and how far it extends.
>Is this the only part of the walls that seems less dense?
-
>Back off and take out our rods again. See if we can discern how thin it is, what may have caused this thinness, and how far it extends.
>Is this the only part of the walls that seems less dense?
>You take a couple steps back and break out the dowsing rods once again in an attempt to get a few more specifics. You do not sense anything specifically from this direction, despite trying, but the resonances of more distant objects seem to propagate through it differently than when viewed from slightly different angles. You shift your position around the room and try to dowse the same object from different vectors to get a feel for the size and shape of this difference. It is honestly hard to tell. You think it extends for a fair distance, but this distance varies irregularly with even slight changes in your own angle. You... think parts of the earth back there may be hollow. Maybe it's just someone else with a large cellar adjacent to this one? Man, wouldn't that be a lame explanation after all this fuss....
>It's a little irregular and you cannot tell for certain, but the difference is certainly closest and most pronounced against that one wall.
-
>Recall what was in that direction. If we're not certain, ask the lady about her neighbors.
-
>Recall what was in that direction. If we're not certain, ask the lady about her neighbors.
>You take a moment to convert your bearings to where you would be pointing if you were above-ground. You don't think it actually lines up neatly with any street above; it's more like pointing at an angle behind the building. There would be another street whose buildings back on that direction, though you don't know off-hand what lines up with the appropriate section. You inquire.
>"There's a potter and a small bookstore over that way," she replies. "And... a cobbler. I think that's it."
-
>"I don't suppose you know if any of them have a large cellar, or basement, would you?"
-
>"I don't suppose you know if any of them have a large cellar, or basement, would you?"
>She shakes her head. "We're pretty deep down, though."
-
>Come to think of it, in all our divinations, have we sensed anything... 'unnatural' or 'magical' about that less dense earth? Or can we determine if this is a natural occurance?
-
>Come to think of it, in all our divinations, have we sensed anything... 'unnatural' or 'magical' about that less dense earth? Or can we determine if this is a natural occurance?
>It does not seem magical in the slightest.
-
>Twitch. Put away our rods. Maybe it's time for some more orthodox means.
>"All right, then, consider that base covered."
>"Now, the day the wine went missing, did you, or any of your staff, notice anything out of the ordinary?"
-
>Twitch. Put away our rods. Maybe it's time for some more orthodox means.
>"All right, then, consider that base covered."
>"Now, the day the wine went missing, did you, or any of your staff, notice anything out of the ordinary?"
>She shakes her head. "No, nothing. And I asked, believe me."
-
>"Now let's assume, for a moment, that it was possible for someone other than you and the other woman with the key to gain access to this room. Would it be possible for someone to get in and out through the other door without you noticing? Or anyone else, for that matter?"
-
>"Now let's assume, for a moment, that it was possible for someone other than you and the other woman with the key to gain access to this room. Would it be possible for someone to get in and out through the other door without you noticing? Or anyone else, for that matter?"
>"I'd say it'd be pretty hard," she replies. "You have to walk past either the kitchen or out through the restaurant, and the case was about the same size as this one." She gestures to a box roughly two feet on each side. "You can't exactly put that in your pocket."
-
>Have we noted a place where any humans can hide effectively? Or faeries or other small types?
>Does it seem like the cellar door can be unlocked from inside the basement?
>About how large is that feeling of lacking density?
I suspect there's something we can't douse in that wall.
-
>Have we noted a place where any humans can hide effectively? Or faeries or other small types?
>Does it seem like the cellar door can be unlocked from inside the basement?
>About how large is that feeling of lacking density?
>You suppose someone might be able to hide inside some of these barrels or crates, if they were emptier than they appear. The room doesn't seem to offer any obvious hiding places outside of this, being fairly open in design.
>It appeared that it could be, yes.
>It is hard to say for certain. It extends for some distance, though irregularly, and only covers a small area nearby.
-
>Is there enough area exposed to tell if the earth face has been recently disturbed, or would we have to move some things out of the way to tell for certain?
>Fairys are magic, at least of a sort. Can we douse for those?
>If we had a precise description of the wine in question could we douse for that? Say, 'bottles of '47 Razua.'?
-
>Is there enough area exposed to tell if the earth face has been recently disturbed, or would we have to move some things out of the way to tell for certain?
>Fairys are magic, at least of a sort. Can we douse for those?
>If we had a precise description of the wine in question could we douse for that? Say, 'bottles of '47 Razua.'?
>None of what you can see shows signs of disturbance, though several feet of wall are too obscured by crates and sacks to be visible.
>Sometimes. While fairies are undeniably magical, they are fundamentally manifestations of nature, and thus have a tendency to blend in with the ambient background of the world all around them. You suppose one could consider it a sort of natural camouflage. Some are easier to sense than others; you think it may be an idiosyncratic thing. If a fairy was doing something actively magical, you would probably be able to detect it. You suspect this would include them going poof, though you've never caught one in the act to test this theory. In contrast, magic as practiced by magicians is essentially an artificial construct, and thus stands out much more distinctly, though you know there are techniques to mask this as well. You'd like to think you're good enough to see past most attempts at this, but you'd be remiss to consider yourself infallible.
>No. If you had an actual sample as a baseline, you might be able to dowse for something similar, but you wouldn't count on getting much range out of it.
-
>Do any of the crates or kegs appear big enough to hold the crate in question?
-
>Do any of the crates or kegs appear big enough to hold the crate in question?
>Several of them are substantially larger than the missing case. You imagine they could hold at least a half-dozen of them.
-
>"I don't mean to sound insulting, but, have you given this room a thorough search yourself?"
-
>"I don't mean to sound insulting, but, have you given this room a thorough search yourself?"
>"Well, you can see for yourself," she says, sweeping her hand across the room. "Where exactly could someone hide it in here?"
-
>Point out the larger crates. "Call that 'hiding in plain sight'."
-
>Point out the larger crates. "Call that 'hiding in plain sight'."
>She takes a look where you're pointing, then turns back to you with an irritated frown on her face. "What exactly is hiding? That's Randsworth Cider; it says so right on the side of the box. It hasn't even been opened."
-
>Does the box appear locked?
Whadya think, boys? Should we go digging in that wall? Go interrogate the other woman with the key?
-
>Does the box appear locked?
>It looks like a wooden shipping crate, not designed for repeated opening or closing. It still looks firmly intact.
-
I think we really need to investigate things a little more before making allegations, lest we keep pissing off our employer and get fired for being a shit.
Digging into the wall should probably wait until we can get more of an idea of what's there. For instance, let's douse outside in that area. I still have my suspicions that someone got inside and waited for them to leave. Talking with the other keyholder is a good idea.
>To clarify, do we think the door can be unlocked from the inside without a key?
-
I still have my suspicions that someone got inside and waited for them to leave.
That sounds a valid theory to me. I'm fairy certain there's SOMETHING in there myself, but I'm damned if I can figure out what. Dowsing around the area outside sounds a good idea.
-
>To clarify, do we think the door can be unlocked from the inside without a key?
>You believe so, yes.
-
>Have we asked about anyone else being down here? If not, do that. If so, what did he say?
No time to read back right now.
-
>Have we asked about anyone else being down here? If not, do that. If so, what did he say?
>You did not, so you ask this.
>"Sometimes other workers come down with me to help carry things up," she replies, "But I was alone both these last times."
-
>"About how heavy was the missing case?"
-
>"About how heavy was the missing case?"
>"Several pounds," she replies. "Probably not much more than that. The cost is in the quality, not the volume. It wouldn't be hard for one person to carry, if that's what you're asking."
-
>"Now, just to be certain about the situation, you know for a fact it was here when you locked up last time, and you didn't notice anything else awry when you saw it was gone?"
-
>"Now, just to be certain about the situation, you know for a fact it was here when you locked up last time, and you didn't notice anything else awry when you saw it was gone?"
>"That's correct," she nods, then pauses a moment. "It's... possible a few things were moved around a little, but I didn't see anything else missing."
-
>Does our dowsing ability give us the ability to sense tunnels, or at least hollows in the earth?
>If so, does that 'thin' earth feel like a tunnel, or simply more loosely packed earth?
>Would we be able to detect the presense of wood, in this case worked wood, when surrounded by earth? Or perhaps the metal in the crate?
-
>Does our dowsing ability give us the ability to sense tunnels, or at least hollows in the earth?
>If so, does that 'thin' earth feel like a tunnel, or simply more loosely packed earth?
>Would we be able to detect the presense of wood, in this case worked wood, when surrounded by earth? Or perhaps the metal in the crate?
>Not directly, in the sense of being able to map them specifically. You can't dowse for air and empty space is, almost by definition, an absence of things to detect. You can sometimes get a sense of places that might be more empty than others, due to an absence of materials present in their surroundings, but solid space is typically not made up of a single coherent material, making this work a little fuzzy.
>It most certainly could be a tunnel, now that you think about it.... Although you think it would have to be more than one, given the breadth of the sensation.
>You cannot dowse for wood, and while there are likely nails in the case that would give it metallic content that you could detect, they would be far too small and mundane to dowse for usefully among a city filled with countless thousands of nearly identical objects. If you had to find the box in the middle of a field somewhere, on the other hand...
-
>Can we discern how far these tunnels extend, and/or in which directions? If we can, and have not done so, break out our rods again and do so.
-
>Can we discern how far these tunnels extend, and/or in which directions? If we can, and have not done so, break out our rods again and do so.
>From what you sensed earlier, you are cannot be certain how far they extend, although it felt like it might be a considerable distance. They were concentrated along the direction of the left wall of the cellar, although you think they fanned out after a while, or became larger in some other fashion. You don't think you're likely to be able to get many more specifics by dowsing again, unfortunately.
-
>Can we determine how wide they are? Hate to expend this much effort for a bloody mole nest, or something.
-
>Can we determine how wide they are? Hate to expend this much effort for a bloody mole nest, or something.
>You can't be specific, but you're relatively certain it's quite a bit larger than would be created by an animal. In any case, this would be extremely deep for any mole to have burrowed; they usually stay within a foot or so of the surface.
-
>Can we recall hearing reports, or seeing notices, of recent construction or remodeling in this part of town? Something that would give someone a prime opportunity to dig out a tunnel or two?
>"Has anyone in this part of town done some big remodeling jobs recently, any new buildings go up, old ones come down?"
-
>Can we recall hearing reports, or seeing notices, of recent construction or remodeling in this part of town? Something that would give someone a prime opportunity to dig out a tunnel or two?
>"Has anyone in this part of town done some big remodeling jobs recently, any new buildings go up, old ones come down?"
>Nothing comes to mind.
>"Not as far as I know," she replies, giving you an icy look somewhat mollified by her own poorly-masked puzzlement. It's not hard to tell that this isn't quite what she expected when she hired a Seeker.
-
>If we were to employ our dousing rods from other locations, would we have a better sense of how far these tunnels extend?
-
>If we were to employ our dousing rods from other locations, would we have a better sense of how far these tunnels extend?
>You might, although you suspect it would be rather harder to do from the surface than underground.
-
>Do we know any other winerys around town that a theif could sell his goods to here in town? Or anywhere else, for that matter?
>To the best of our knowledge, is this the first time this place has had trouble with dissapearing goods, or theivery, before?
So the way I see it, we can either
1) Break down the wall of this cellar and get into the tunnels, but I sincerely doubt missy Owner here's gonna go for that, given her attitude.
2) Go talk to this other keyholder, see what she has to say, if anything.
3) Start dowsing around the general vicinity, see if we can determine where those tunnels, if they are tunnels, go, although I doubt our success on that front, given what our parser said not long ago.
I'll give the problem more thought while I'm at work, but if any one has any ideas on how to proceed, don't wait for me.
-
>Do we know any other winerys around town that a theif could sell his goods to here in town? Or anywhere else, for that matter?
>To the best of our knowledge, is this the first time this place has had trouble with dissapearing goods, or theivery, before?
>You don't imagine many wineries are in the business of buying wine, though you're sure there are other bars or particularly private collectors who might be interested in apparently distinguished vintages. Unfortunately, that doesn't narrow it down very usefully.
>You don't recall seeing any previous jobs from them posted on the board, at least, and the proprietor hasn't mentioned anything.
-
>In all the time we've been down here, have we heard anything from that patch of earth? Or any noises we couldn't attribute to either us or the woman with us?
-
>In all the time we've been down here, have we heard anything from that patch of earth? Or any noises we couldn't attribute to either us or the woman with us?
>No. It's pretty quiet down here.
-
>Turn again to look at the 'tunnel' wall, and indicate the detritus in front of the wall.
>"Mind if I move some of that stuff out of the way? I can't shake the feeling there's something back there."
-
>Turn again to look at the 'tunnel' wall, and indicate the detritus in front of the wall.
>"Mind if I move some of that stuff out of the way? I can't shake the feeling there's something back there."
>You take another look at the suspect wall and gesture towards the stacks of crates and sacks piled against part of it.
>The woman gives an irritated frown and seems about to speak, then pauses a moment and sighs. "Do what you want," she says, a resigned note in her voice. "Just make sure you put everything back where it was when you came here."
-
>Ingrate...
>"Sure."
>Shift enough of the goods, carefully, to give us a better look at that wall, see if we can see any signs of those 'tunnels'.
-
>Ingrate...
>"Sure."
>Shift enough of the goods, carefully, to give us a better look at that wall, see if we can see any signs of those 'tunnels'.
>You grumble inwardly and then assent.
>Then you start to move some of the inventory aside to get a better look at that part of the wall. You start with the smaller cases on top, shifting them onto another stack of crates against a different wall. When this fails to reveal anything notable, you start on the larger and heavier boxes, slowly and carefully dragging them aside. Through it all, the woman looms over the room, saying little and simply watching your work with a dismissive attitude. It grows to be quite vexing after a while, but you suppose at least she isn't complaining at you. For now. You have little doubt she will start again if you don't find something for all this effort.
>You clear off one of the full stacks of boxes, revealing a several foot wide chunk of wall. It looks fundamentally indistinguishable from the segments of wall to either side of it; you try not to let the woman's sour gaze burn a hole in the back of your head, but you don't even need to turn around to feel it on you. Instead, you set in on the next stack of boxes, this one in the corner of the room. Quite a few heavy sacks of flour and meal are piled up against them, so you start hauling them away to free a path to drag the largest of the boxes out.
>As you clear most of the sacks away, your eye catches on something. There seems to be a sizable hole in the side of one of the largest wooden boxes, previously obscured entirely. It appears to have been crudely smashed in.
-
>"Well, now. What have we here."
>Point out the stove in crate to the woman with the bad attitude. "Whaddya make of this?"
>Assuming we didn't DO it. If we did, hide the evidence as best we can and say none of that.
-
>"Well, now. What have we here."
>Point out the stove in crate to the woman with the bad attitude. "Whaddya make of this?"
>Assuming we didn't DO it. If we did, hide the evidence as best we can and say none of that.
>You most certainly had no role in this. You call the woman over and point out the damage. She takes a look at it and frowns, for once not in apparent disapproval of you. In fact, she looks genuinely dismayed.
>"What happened here?" she asks.
-
>Can we determine if the crate was smashed in from the outside, or broke outwards?
-
>Can we determine if the crate was smashed in from the outside, or broke outwards?
>Examining the fractures in the wood, it looks like it might actually have been smashed from the inside, as unlikely as that might seem, though you see very little sign of debris outside the hole. There are perhaps a few scattered splinters on the floor below it, but certainly nothing even approaching the amount of wood that had to have been removed.
-
>"If I'm right, then I think I might've found where your wines went."
>Keep moving things out of our way to the wall, keeping an eye out for more damaged crates.
-
>"If I'm right, then I think I might've found where your wines went."
>Keep moving things out of our way to the wall, keeping an eye out for more damaged crates.
>"But that's a crate of potatoes," she says, still frowning at the hole.
>You continue to move things out of the way, taking several smaller (but still fairly heavy) boxes from off the top of the damaged box and putting them aside. After a few more moments staring at the damage, the woman actually joins in, making the work go much more quickly. You inspect every crate and container you move for damage, though all of them seem perfectly intact, and in the condition she says they should be in. Eventually, once the rest of the obstacles are removed, the two of you grab hold of the damaged box and drag it away.
>In the wall directly behind where that box had stood is a hole, roughly dug and about two feet in diameter. The woman stares at it open-mouthed.
-
>"I was right. Someone, or something, has been digging around in that wall. Dollars to donuts, that's how they got your goods out."
>Sniff the air in that hole, then, assuming we can't smell anything too hazardous, take a look inside.
>Take a moment to brace ourselves first. This is Braston, not the hills out Easthaven way.
-
>"I was right. Someone, or something, has been digging around in that wall. Dollars to donuts, that's how they got your goods out."
>Sniff the air in that hole, then, assuming we can't smell anything too hazardous, take a look inside.
>Take a moment to brace ourselves first. This is Braston, not the hills out Easthaven way.
>The woman's frown deepens, but she simply continues staring at the hole in silence; it seems she hasn't quite figured out how to process this development.
>You take a moment to brace yourself and set aside unpleasant memories of other holes you've crawled through lately, then take a sniff of the air inside. It mostly smells earthy, with a faint hint of... alcohol, you think? And... something faintly floral. Given that neither flowers nor alcohol seem especially threatening (except perhaps in the form of an irate oni gardener), you take a look inside. Mostly, it is dark. There is enough light coming from the room to allow you to see fairly far in, just the same, though you expect the woman can't see much past the entrance. Not that seeing further allows you to see much of consequence, in this case. The tunnel is simply a path cut through the bare earth, without any distinguishing features or objects visible. It seems to widen slightly just past the entrance, then continues onward beyond the limits of your sight.
-
>Does it seem wide enough to allow a humanoid passage while standing, or would they have to crawl?
>Can we discern what type of alcohol? Or flowers, for that matter? Or could the floral smell be perfume?
>"This would explain how somebody got in without a key, alright. And how they got out without catching your, or anyone else's, eye."
-
>"I wonder how they stacked everything back up on the way out, though..."
-
>Does it seem wide enough to allow a humanoid passage while standing, or would they have to crawl?
>Can we discern what type of alcohol? Or flowers, for that matter? Or could the floral smell be perfume?
>"This would explain how somebody got in without a key, alright. And how they got out without catching your, or anyone else's, eye."
>It could probably allow some fairies to walk through while standing, or at least crouching a little. You would need to crawl.
>You do think it may be wine. The flowers are less determinant. It might well be perfume, but there is only a trace of it - possibly from someone passing through there, though you suspect not from something which is still there.
>She nods slowly.
>"I wonder how they stacked everything back up on the way out, though..."
>"Quite," she says, frowning. "Everything here looked the same as it did before the wine was stolen, as well. At least, not different enough for me to notice."
-
>"Would that box of wine fit in there, you think?"
>Kneel down and look into the tunnel; don't put any of our bits into it yet.
-
>"Would that box of wine fit in there, you think?"
>Kneel down and look into the tunnel; don't put any of our bits into it yet.
>"Definitely," she says.
>You kneel down and take another look into the tunnel. Unfortunately, this vantage doesn't really provide you with anything new; you can see nothing but bare earth extending for a considerable distance before growing too dark to see further.
-
>Look at the bare earth. Does it seem to have been flattened out by dragging, or perhaps have some footprints in it? Do the sides bear any marks?
>How far can we see into it before it gets too dark?
-
>Look at the bare earth. Does it seem to have been flattened out by dragging, or perhaps have some footprints in it? Do the sides bear any marks?
>How far can we see into it before it gets too dark?
>You don't see any obvious signs of dragging or flattened ground. The earth looks quite firmly packed in general which would make it poorly suited for leaving footprints. There are some marks along the length of the tunnel, but concentrated in particular near the entrance that might be footprints, though they're indistinct. Somewhat more distinct, along the sides of the tunnel further in are what look reminiscent of claw marks.
>About 15 feet or so.
-
>Take a good sniff inside, can we smell anything other than the wine?
>"Can you get me a candle?"
-
>Take a good sniff inside, can we smell anything other than the wine?
>"Can you get me a candle?"
>You take another good sniff, but still detect little else usual beside the wine and faint floral scent. Mostly, it just smells dank and earthy.
>"Is one of the lanterns here good enough?" she asks.
-
>Do we think we could crawl with one of those lamps?
-
>Do we think we could crawl with one of those lamps?
>It'll likely be a little awkward going either way, but you don't expect the lamp would make it much worse.
-
>"I can give it a try. Bring one over here, and we'll see if it lights up more."
-
>"I can give it a try. Bring one over here, and we'll see if it lights up more."
>"Alright," she says, then fetches one of the lanterns hung from the cellar ceiling and hands it to you.
-
>Move the lantern so that we can get as much light into the hole as possible, and see what we can see.
-
>About how big do those claw marks look? Can we tell what kind of animal made them, or at least what size?
-
>Move the lantern so that we can get as much light into the hole as possible, and see what we can see.
>You move the lantern to shed some more light on the tunnel and take another look. While many details of it become clearer to see, for the most part this doesn't reveal anything new. You can, however, see further into the tunnel than before. There is a slight curvature to it, and then after about 20 feet or so, it curves away out of sight entirely.
>About how big do those claw marks look? Can we tell what kind of animal made them, or at least what size?
>The claws marks look rather broad compared to their span, with each being the better part of an inch wide. While the earth doesn't show them clearly in all spots, there are enough marks running along the length of the tunnel that you strongly suspect it was dug by them.
-
>Indicate in the direction that the tunnel curves. "What's that way?"
-
>Indicate in the direction that the tunnel curves. "What's that way?"
>"Uhh..." The woman takes a look down the tunnel, then looks up at the roof a moment and visibly tries to orient herself. She frowns a little. "I don't know. Lots of places, I'm sure." She frowns further, then shakes her head. "I don't think I could do better than blind guessing."
-
>"Oh well. Guess I'm just going to have to go in and see. I don't suppose you have a lamp that's a bit more friendly toward crawling?"
So, we could probably use our tail for lantern dangling, but that might cut down on out light a little much.
-
>"Oh well. Guess I'm just going to have to go in and see. I don't suppose you have a lamp that's a bit more friendly toward crawling?"
>"Friendly how?" she asks, giving the lantern a glance.
-
>"Friendly like I can hold it in front of me easily and not have to worry about it spilling oil if I do something dumb."
-
>"Friendly like I can hold it in front of me easily and not have to worry about it spilling oil if I do something dumb."
>The lantern you are holding is magical, rather than oil-based (hence why it was left lit in an unattended area for a prolonged length of time), though it is stylized to resemble a mundane one. You won't need to worry about anything spilling, and the construction looks fairly sturdy.
-
>"That'll do. Thanks."
>Would crawling with that in our hands impede our movement greatly, and how badly would carrying it in our tail impede the lumination?
-
>"That'll do. Thanks."
>Would crawling with that in our hands impede our movement greatly, and how badly would carrying it in our tail impede the lumination?
>She nods.
>While the tunnel is small, beyond the entrance it's wide enough that you don't think you'll have too hard a time navigating with the lantern in your hands. If you held in your tail, your own body would probably block most of the light, but you also don't need a great deal of it to see well enough.
-
>Well enough is good enough.
>Take the lantern in our tail, and produce a kunai, then enter the tunnel.
>Being able to resume our original form would come in handy down here.
-
>Well enough is good enough.
>Take the lantern in our tail, and produce a kunai, then enter the tunnel.
>Being able to resume our original form would come in handy down here.
>You decide you prefer sub-optimal lighting to having a hand full.
>You grab hold of the lantern with your tail - you note the woman raise an eyebrow slightly at the gesture - then draw a kunai and crawl into the tunnel. The entering takes a little wiggling, but after that it's wide enough to be comfortable, even if you don't have much room to maneuver; turning around will certainly take some creative contorting.
>This place would be outright spacious for a mouse. On the other hand, you wouldn't want to be so tiny and defenseless if you run into whoever owns the claws.
-
>If no openly hostile sounds or smells present themselves, advance, slowly.
-
>If no openly hostile sounds or smells present themselves, advance, slowly.
>You hear nothing much at all from the tunnel, so you start to slowly advance. In fact, it would be rather difficult to advance in any other fashion, though the going isn't particularly uncomfortable. Soon enough, you make it to the bend in the tunnel and peer around the side, raising the lantern as much as you can in this confined space. Beyond it is another bend, perhaps 10 feet away. The tunnel between here and there looks the same as ever, without any new distinguishing features or clues.
-
>Is the scent getting any stronger?
>Proceed, nevertheless.
-
>Is the scent getting any stronger?
>Proceed, nevertheless.
>Slightly, though not markedly.
>You continue onward, past this new bend and then beyond. The tunnel continues in this manner for a sizable distance, turning one way and then another. Wherever it leads, you cannot imagine this was the most direct route between points. Every now and again you spot what might be traces of a small footprint, and along the whole distance, claw marks continue to be evident on the surface of the tunnel. Still, you hear no sounds that would indicate the presence of anyone or anything else, and see nothing else of note.
>Eventually, you spot what appears to be a considerable widening of the tunnel in the distance. The scent of wine is notably stronger by this point.
-
>Stop and have a listen.
>Did those footprints seem human-sized or fairy-sized?
-
>Stop and have a listen.
>Did those footprints seem human-sized or fairy-sized?
>You stop and listen. You hear no sounds of motion or activity of any kind. At most, you hear a very slow drip somewhere in the distance.
>You'd say they were closer to fairy-sized, though none of them were very well-defined.
-
>Does the tunnel increase in ceiling clearance as well as width? If so, try and return to a vertical base when we reach that point.
-
>Does the tunnel increase in ceiling clearance as well as width? If so, try and return to a vertical base when we reach that point.
>It looks like it does. In fact, as you approach, you find that it actually widens into something of a small underground chamber, though high enough for you to stand upright only with your head cricked down. You can still see claw marks at points along the walls and other surfaces, though it looks almost as though effort has been made to smooth them out and make the earth look more finished. Several tunnels branch off from this point, one of them ascending sharply, with two others looking roughly level and forking at about a 45 degree angle to your entrance.
>In the corner of the chamber lies a deep green bottle, rolled onto its side; a small trickle of rich red liquid has pooled on the ground by its open lip. The smell you had been detecting early is almost certainly from this.
-
>Examine the label.
>Watch from tripwires or other traps.
>Do we see any evidence of tools?
-
>Examine the label.
>You roll the bottle over to examine the label. It is largely of plain design, traced with a simple gold filigree. Half of it is wrinkled and tinged with spilled wine. It reads:
>Bavario and Umehara, vintners. Sweet Merlot. 504.
>Watch from tripwires or other traps.
>Do we see any evidence of tools?
>You keep an eye out for tripwires and other traps, but see absolutely nothing of the sort. In fact, the place looks quite bare if not altogether flat.
>You also do not see any tools present, however on this second pass, you spot the bottle's cork a short distance away the bottle itself. The numerous rough gouges in it suggest it was removed with something far cruder than a corkscrew.
-
>Does the label match what the tavern lady said was swiped?
>Do the marks in the cork appear similar to the marks on the wall?
>Is our treasure sense pinging down here?
-
>Does the label match what the tavern lady said was swiped?
>Do the marks in the cork appear similar to the marks on the wall?
>Is our treasure sense pinging down here?
>She hadn't specified the exact contents of the case. This is fairly old, at least, but you're no wine connoisseur.
>It's a little hard to tell given that parts of the cork seem to have partially disintegrated under the gouging, but you're inclined to think not. For one thing, each claw mark on the tunnel looks about as wide as the whole cork itself.
>Not particularly.
-
>Do we feel we have room to turn around in here?
-
>Do we feel we have room to turn around in here?
>Easily so; you can almost stand.
-
>Examine the tunnels, see which one shows the most claw marks, and/or the most obvious signs of repeated travel.
-
>Examine the tunnels, see which one shows the most claw marks, and/or the most obvious signs of repeated travel.
>You examine the other tunnels. It's not clear that any of them have distinctly more claw marks than any other, though if you had to pick one on that front, it would be the upward sloping tunnel. However, the ground in a different tunnel is smoothed in a way that could possibly imply either repeated use, or more care taken in making it.
-
>Being wary of our surroundings, travel down that tunnel.
>And put away our kunai. No need to look overtly threatening.
-
>Being wary of our surroundings, travel down that tunnel.
>And put away our kunai. No need to look overtly threatening.
>You put away your kunai and head down the smoother-looking tunnel. This meanders in a fashion not unlike the first one you traveled down, sometimes seeming to have a direction in mind and other times not. After what feels like quite some minutes, you emerge in another chamber, this one more spacious and also apparently furnished. You can see a couple wooden cupboards, built directly into the earthen walls such that little more than their doors protrude. The walls and floor of the chamber also seem to be carefully smoothed, and are free of any visible claw marks.
>Several more tunnels extend from this chamber, most of them looking similar to the one you just emerged from, but one appears large enough for you to walk upright. The earth there is also finished-looking, clearly having been constructed with a skill and care not applied to much of what you've so far seen.
-
>Sniff the air.
-
>Sniff the air.
>You take a sniff of the air. You still smell primarily earth, but there is also a whiff of wood and metal, vaguely industrial-smelling oil and... potatoes? Raisins and walnuts, too. Neither the scent of wine nor the floral scent you detected earlier are evident here.
-
>Follow that potato scent.
-
>Follow that potato scent.
>You're fairly certain the scent is coming from one of those cupboards.
-
>That'd explain the potato crate, then.
>Do we still smell the wine scent?
-
>That'd explain the potato crate, then.
>Do we still smell the wine scent?
>You think it would take a little more than just this to explain why someone put a hole in a crate in the basement of a restaurant half a mile away, but they may well be related.
>Not especially, by this point.
-
>Do we detect the wine scent from any of the tunnels connected to this room?
-
>Do we detect the wine scent from any of the tunnels connected to this room?
>It is most prominent down the one you just came, though quite faint that this distance, even there.
-
>Hm. Might just be coming from the one broken bottle, then.
>Does this room, or any other, appear to have their own sources of illumination, or is our lamp the only source of light down here?
-
>Hm. Might just be coming from the one broken bottle, then.
>Does this room, or any other, appear to have their own sources of illumination, or is our lamp the only source of light down here?
>Perhaps.
>The last chamber was mostly bare, but this one appears to have a pair of oil lanterns hanging from the wall. They are presently unlit.
-
>So whoever lives down here must not be able to see perfectly in the dark, either.
>Look down the other tunnels, see what we can see and hear and smell.
-
>So whoever lives down here must not be able to see perfectly in the dark, either.
>Look down the other tunnels, see what we can see and hear and smell.
>This would seem to imply that.
>You look down the other tunnels. Again, you cannot see very far before they turn one way or another, and nothing of any interest. There is little of interest to smell in most of them, either. There are few distinct scents other than the earth itself, and perhaps the faint traces of someone who had recently passed through them (although it does not resemble the scent you found near the entrance). Down one, you believe you can smell... raisins and walnuts and a few other foods, you think. The scent of a person's passage is most distinct along the larger tunnel.
-
>Follow the larger tunnel, slowly and quietly.
-
I wonder if calling out for the occupant would be a poor idea or not?
-
Dunno man.
Going by the scratches, I'd say it's some sort of tunneling animal, or Youkai.
I'm thinking either Badger or Mole possibly, leaning more towards Badger going by the damaged crate.
Moles aren't that strong, even a Mole Youkai wouldn't be much stronger than us right now.
But a Badger, or Badger Youkai would be able to bust through the crate and do what has been done.
And we all know how ill-tempered Badgers are.
-
I've been thinking about that, myself. If she catches us slinking around her home, she won't be too happy to see us, I suspect. On the other hand, we already ARE sneaking around her house anyway, so announcing our presence might not do anymore harm than's already done.
Even if we find the wine, we're gonna need to find the thief, as well, or this'll probably just happen again.
I'm inclined to think Mole youkai, but, that seems the obvious answer, and I'm never inclined to believe the 'obvious'.
I think we should wait until Draco's next post, see what we can see, and then go from there.
EDIT: I might add, that, after the spider debacle, I'm really not looking forward to anymore trouble, so, if it's the choice between the two, I REALLY hope we get a nice friendly mole that we can tap, not a badger that'll tap us sideways with a forklift.
-
If there is a crazy nastyass badger in here, then it will be our job to recruit her toward fucking up spider burrows.
-
Assuming there's any burrow left after Marisa's done with the place.
-
Agreed! The more muscle we have helping us, the better.
Plus, if the Badger's a drunk, we can pay 'em in booze! Why else would it steal wine, eh?
-
Anyone wanna gamble that this is Mamizou's doing? 9 to 1 odds.
-
>Follow the larger tunnel, slowly and quietly.
>You head down the larger tunnel slowly, happy enough to be back on your feet again. This proves to be a much shorter trip than either of the previous tunnels, though not much more eventful. The walls are unadorned, though carefully finished, and the space is empty of any objects that catch your notice. At least until you reach the end.
>In front of you is a small wooden door, painted green. From it hangs a heavy iron ring-shaped handle. The door is built directly into the earth around it, and has a rather rustic quality to it.
-
Either that or a Hobbit.
I saw we just knock.
-
I didn't think Tanuki tunneled.
And plus, the most she does is Illusions. Illusions don't affect one's physical abilities, just appearance.
-
That's what she WANTS you to think. :P
Still, I kinda do hope it's her. I haven't gotten to her in the game yet (and I never will, because she's an ex-boss, and I'm just not that good), but I like her. Anyway, back to the issue at hand.
>Give the door a rap.
-
>Give the door a rap.
>You give the door a rap. At first there is no obvious response, but then you hear rustling from inside and what are almost certainly quiet footsteps, although they do not sound like they're approaching the door directly.
-
>Do they sound like they're going in the opposite direction?
-
>Do they sound like they're going in the opposite direction?
>No. Rather they seem to be moving quietly around the general space beyond the door.
-
>Take a couple steps back, but not so far as to impede our hearing.
>"I can hear you in there. I just wanna talk."
-
>Take a couple steps back, but not so far as to impede our hearing.
>"I can hear you in there. I just wanna talk."
>You take a couple steps back from the door and call out. The footsteps stop, but you get no response for several seconds. Then you hear a voice from inside answer meekly.
>"I- is someone there?"
-
Definately not Mamizou. Unless she's already pasted.
>There's no pronounced smell of alcohol coming from behind that door, is there?
>"Only me."
-
>There's no pronounced smell of alcohol coming from behind that door, is there?
>"Only me."
>There is not.
>"Who's... 'me'?" she asks tentatively.
-
>"My name's Nazrin. And you are?"
-
>"My name's Nazrin. And you are?"
>She is silent for a moment. "...what are you doing in my cellar?"
-
Hhm, this might be another victim.
-
>"I was hired to investigate some wines going missing, and I found a tunnel leading here from where the wines were taken."
-
>"I was hired to investigate some wines going missing, and I found a tunnel leading here from where the wines were taken."
>She lets out a little squeak. "W- what?"
-
>Hang on, did the squeak sound like one a mouse would make?
-
>Hang on, did the squeak sound like one a mouse would make?
>Not particularly. It sounded more like a note of startlement from someone with a timid voice.
-
>"Did you know you had a hole in your cellar wall?"
-
>"Did you know you had a hole in your cellar wall?"
>"Er, um... w- where exactly?" she answers nervously, her voice nearly cracking on the last word.
-
>Does this door appear to be locked?
>Does it open in or out?
>"Would you mind letting me in first? Never liked talking through doors all that much."
-
>Does this door appear to be locked?
>Does it open in or out?
>"Would you mind letting me in first? Never liked talking through doors all that much."
>You don't see any evidence of a lock on the door.
>You believe it opens towards you.
>"Oh, um..." She hesitates a moment, and then you can hear footsteps approaching. The door opens a couple inches and a small figure, probably slightly shorter than even yourself, peers at you through the resulting crack. She makes a sort of nervous-looking smile and attempts to sound pleasant.
>"Uh, hello?"
-
>"Hi there!"
>Offer a handshake. "I'm Nazrin."
-
>"Hi there!"
>Offer a handshake. "I'm Nazrin."
>You say hello the girl and offer your hand. She seems to hesitate a moment, then cautiously opens the door and extends her hand equally cautiously. Now that you can get a proper look at her, you're definitely inclined to think she's shorter than you, though somewhat heavy-set. She is wearing a jaunty black beret on top of a rather tousled mop of brown hair that all but obscures her eyes, though you can still make out her squinting at you through a pair of thick-lensed glasses.
>"Momoka," she says, tentatively accepting your handshake.
-
>"Hey, can I ask you a few things? I didn't think there was anyone down here."
-
>"Hey, can I ask you a few things? I didn't think there was anyone down here."
>"Well, this is my house..." She frowns a little.
-
>"It looks nice, from what I've seen. How long have you been down here?"
-
>"It looks nice, from what I've seen. How long have you been down here?"
>"Um... about twenty years," she replies, adjusting her glasses. "Why?"
-
>About how far are we from the hole in the cellar?
>Frown. "Do you live alone down here?"
-
>About how far are we from the hole in the cellar?
>Frown. "Do you live alone down here?"
>Given how twisting the passages were on the way here, it's very difficult to estimate the overland distance. You would say it's a couple blocks away at least, and possibly quite a bit further.
>She nods. "Just me, yes."
-
>Nod. "Huh, must be lonely. Or do you spend a lot of time in town."
>If we get a chance without tipping off that we're doing it, discreetly look at her hands to see how clawful they are.
-
>Nod. "Huh, must be lonely. Or do you spend a lot of time in town."
>If we get a chance without tipping off that we're doing it, discreetly look at her hands to see how clawful they are.
>"I like it here," she says. "But I also manage a small used book store, and-" She pauses, and squints at you again. "...why are you asking me this? And can you please tell me what you're doing in my cellar?"
>You take a discrete glance at her hands while you talk. They look quite normal in appearance, perhaps a little chubby. No claws are in evidence.
-
>What's the name of the place we're working for?
-
>What's the name of the place we're working for?
>The Wild Rose.
-
>"Did you know there's a tunnel connecting this place to The Wild Rose?"
-
>"Did you know there's a tunnel connecting this place to The Wild Rose?"
>She flinches slightly. "Er, um, there is?"
-
>"That's how I got in here."
-
>"That's how I got in here."
>"I... see." She frowns uncomfortably.
-
Should we point out she said it's just her again, or play oblivious?
-
I'm thinking the first option.
>"Don't suppose you have any hole-digging neighbours down here, do ya?"
>Obvious exits in the room she's in.
>Come to think of it, does she look... thin enough to squeeze through that hole in the Rose's basement?
-
>"Don't suppose you have any hole-digging neighbours down here, do ya?"
>Obvious exits in the room she's in.
>Come to think of it, does she look... thin enough to squeeze through that hole in the Rose's basement?
>"No, it's just-" She pauses and fidgets a moment, then adds more meekly. "...it's just me."
>You can't see enough of the room behind her to see any exits at all, but the place looks quite well-furnished and finished in a fairly conventional manner. You can see a rocking chair and a large throw rug, and several pictures hung on the walls, though those are still largely of bare earth construction. The place seems lit by a few warmly flickering lamps, though these are not presently in sight. All in all, it has a fairly cozy atmosphere.
>You're pretty sure she could. Her build may be less slight than yours, but she's still fairly small.
-
>"You understand how suspicious this seems, I hope?"
-
>"You understand how suspicious this seems, I hope?"
>She nods slowly, looking dreadfully uncomfortable.
-
>Gently, "Is there something you'd like to tell me, or shall I say it myself?"
-
>Gently, "Is there something you'd like to tell me, or shall I say it myself?"
>Momoka is silent for a moment, then all but bawls out "I'm really sorry! It was an accident, I swear. I'll pay for whatever damages I caused!"
>Behind the mess of hair and thick glasses, her eyes look almost tearful.
-
>Okay, THAT was unexpected.
>Hold an arm up and say, "Okay, just... calm down. Tell me what happened."
>"Would you rather sit down?"
-
>Okay, THAT was unexpected.
>Hold an arm up and say, "Okay, just... calm down. Tell me what happened."
>"Would you rather sit down?"
>"No, no," she says waving a hand dismissively, "I'm okay. It's just I... Well, I suppose you've seen them, if you came here from there. But these tunnels are mine. All of them." For a moment, you can see a trace of quiet pride on her face. "Most people go for a walk when they want to clear their head. I dig places. I just always feel so comfortable down here - a little instinctual memory of how I used to live, I suppose; I'm sure you're probably the same, right?" She looks at you hopefully.
>"Anyway, a couple weeks ago, I ended up breaking through into a- a storage cellar of some sort. The... Wild Rose, you said it was?"
>She raises her hands defensively. "Y- you have to understand, I never expected to cause anyone any harm. No one builds down nearly this deep." She frowns. "Uh, I mean, I didn't think anyone did. It had never happened before! As soon as I realized what I'd done, I sealed the tunnel back up after me and, uh, well..." She averts her face. "...kind of hoped no one would notice. But I guess it must have collapsed somehow, anyway..."
-
>"I can understand that a fair bit actually. Heck, we aren't so different really, Mouse y'know."
>Smile a bit.
>"I tell ya though, you're a lot politer than the last Youkai I ended up finding in an underground place while on the job. Cave Spiders are a nasty lot they are."
>"At least this solves the mystery of the tunnels though, and proves that you didn't take the wines."
Say, if she dug all these tunnels, then maybe she could help us find the thief?
-
I'm with ya there, Hanzo. She knows the place inside and out, she'd be able to tell us if there's any new tunnels, or what have you.
>"It's a nice tunnel system you've made here, but, I think you're not the only one using it. If you didn't take the wine crate, then someone else did."
>"By any chance, you didn't break a crate of potatoes when you found the Rose's cellar, did you?"
-
>"I can understand that a fair bit actually. Heck, we aren't so different really, Mouse y'know."
>Smile a bit.
>Momoka gives you a tentative smile in return.
>"I tell ya though, you're a lot politer than the last Youkai I ended up finding in an underground place while on the job. Cave Spiders are a nasty lot they are."
>"At least this solves the mystery of the tunnels though, and proves that you didn't take the wines."
>"That's... that's good," she says, her expression easing a little.
>"It's a nice tunnel system you've made here, but, I think you're not the only one using it. If you didn't take the wine crate, then someone else did."
>"I don't see how anyone else would have come through my tunnels but me, and I-" Her eyes widen and she lets out a little gulp. "I- I don't mean that I had anything to do with it! I just don't know what else to tell you..."
>"By any chance, you didn't break a crate of potatoes when you found the Rose's cellar, did you?"
>She squints at you and adjusts her glasses. "Potatoes? Whatever would I do that for?"
-
>"Okay, so that pretty much clears you on everything short of just making the tunnel. That means that whatever took the wines might've been in the crate."
>Pause for a moment.
>"Or maybe something else could be down here. Not to worry you or anything, but I'd be careful down here all the same."
>That's a pretty grim thought, something else down here...That'd be just our luck wouldn't it? Let's hope our new friend will be okay.
-
>"Okay, so that pretty much clears you on everything short of just making the tunnel. That means that whatever took the wines might've been in the crate."
>Pause for a moment.
>"Or maybe something else could be down here. Not to worry you or anything, but I'd be careful down here all the same."
>Momoka frowns uncomfortably. "I, um... you mean you think someone... dangerous is down here?"
>That's a pretty grim thought, something else down here...That'd be just our luck wouldn't it? Let's hope our new friend will be okay.
>You've had more than enough with dangerous thieves living in tunnels, and Momoka certainly isn't inspiring any belief that she can defend herself.
-
>"Well, I wouldn't rule out the idea, since you didn't take the wines."
>The potato crate was damaged in a manner that suggested something broke out of it, correct?
-
>"Well, I wouldn't rule out the idea, since you didn't take the wines."
>The potato crate was damaged in a manner that suggested something broke out of it, correct?
>She frowns further and fiddles nervously with her sleeve. "I... see."
>It did appear that the hole was broken from the inside out, yes.
-
>"Which leaves the question, who else has been down here?"
-
>"Which leaves the question, who else has been down here?"
>"Um, well... you're the first person I've seen walk in through my cellar," she says.
-
>"Seen, but...heard? Found traces of? Going into the Wild Rose's cellar was the first time you hit anything else, but do you have any other ways in or out?"
-
>"Seen, but...heard? Found traces of? Going into the Wild Rose's cellar was the first time you hit anything else, but do you have any other ways in or out?"
>"Well, the rest of my house is above here," she says, gesturing to the room behind her. "It exits onto the street like anyone else's. Otherwise, I try to keep well below the surface. I don't want to damage anyone else's foundations, you see." She stops and frowns effusively. "I'm really sorry about the Wild Rose. I really am."
-
>Can we discreetly have a smell of the area, or is she likely to notice that. If we can, do that.
>"So, the thing you're telling me, is that there's no other ways in?
-
>Can we discreetly have a smell of the area, or is she likely to notice that. If we can, do that.
>"So, the thing you're telling me, is that there's no other ways in?
>Given that you can tell a decent amount simply by breathing through your nose, you're pretty sure you can be discreet about it. You smell a variety of scents that seem quite appropriate for someone's home: wood, the smell of oil burning, a few assorted foodstuffs, and something vaguely musty - possibly books or old documents - among other less notables. There is no strong smell of alcohol present.
>She fidgets. "Well... there is another way out, but... I don't think anyone would have found it; it's well-hidden."
-
>"Let's see it."
-
>"Let's see it."
>"Well, it's- I mean, I can- Well, I-" She stutters out a response and then her shoulders sag a little. "I... I guess I can show you. If it'll help clear things up, but..." She trails off, looking away.
-
>"If you would, please."
-
>"If you would, please."
>"Okay..." she says, a little resignedly. "Just give me a moment."
>She ambles back into her house and puts out the lights, then reemerges a moment later and closes the door behind her. She nods at you.
>"Okay, follow me, then."
-
>"I'm sorry about this, if you're uncomfortable. I'm just trying to figure out how someobody could have gotten in and out of the Rose's cellar without anyone there, or you, noticing, not to mention being able to take something with them."
>Hm. She doesn't have obvious claws or sharp nails....
>"Forgive me for asking, but, when you're digging your tunnels, do you leave... claw marks, behind?"
-
>"I'm sorry about this, if you're uncomfortable. I'm just trying to figure out how someobody could have gotten in and out of the Rose's cellar without anyone there, or you, noticing, not to mention being able to take something with them."
>"No, no... I understand," she says, still frowning a little. "It's just, well... Well, I guess the escape tunnel was supposed to be a secret. N- not that I have anything to run from, but... old habits die hard, I suppose. I guess no one's going to barge down just because I show you where it is. Unless someone already did barge down... Oh dear." She fusses with her sleeve again.
>Hm. She doesn't have obvious claws or sharp nails....
>"Forgive me for asking, but, when you're digging your tunnels, do you leave... claw marks, behind?"
>"Of course," she replies lightly. "I am a mole, after all."
-
>"Don't worry, your secret's safe with me. I know all about having a back way out."
-
>"Don't worry, your secret's safe with me. I know all about having a back way out."
>She nods and gives a gentle smile. "Thank you."
-
>"And I know how to keep a secret."
>Follow the dear little mole.
>"So, you'd also know if there's been any new tunnels dug down here, something that you didn't build? I was thinking, before I came here, that someone from the surface might have dug their own way down. That may still be possible, just someone dug their own shaft, and then used your tunnels once they stumbled on them down here."
-
>"And I know how to keep a secret."
>Follow the dear little mole.
>"So, you'd also know if there's been any new tunnels dug down here, something that you didn't build? I was thinking, before I came here, that someone from the surface might have dug their own way down. That may still be possible, just someone dug their own shaft, and then used your tunnels once they stumbled on them down here."
>She seems reassured by this, and ambles off down the way you came. You follow after her.
>"Oh dear..." she says. "I... hope that didn't happen. I spent a long time building all this... But yes, I would absolutely know if anything at all has changed. I know every inch of these tunnels inside and out."
-
>"Just how many tunnels have you made?"
-
>"Just how many tunnels have you made?"
>"Oh, just a dozen or two," she says. "Most of them aren't really finished; I keep thinking I ought to spend a little time decorating them, although the bare earth is pretty homey on its own." She runs a hand warmly across the tunnel wall. "It's just a little something I do in my spare time, really."
-
>Keep an open ear for anything hostile down here. In case we need to defend
grandma Momoka. As well as ourselves.
>Do we know how good a sense of smell moles have in general?
-
>Keep an open ear for anything hostile down here. In case we need to defend grandma Momoka. As well as ourselves.
>Do we know how good a sense of smell moles have in general?
>You keep your ears peeled for any possible hostiles as you make your way to the escape tunnel.
>You're not certain, to be honest. You think they're very good at sensing vibrations, though.
>Momoka leads you back to the second chamber you entered, and then ducks into the tunnel you took to get there, crawling into the narrow passage with an ease that belies her somewhat awkward-looking gait while walking. You follow in after her, though find you have a hard time keeping up as she scurries forward through the twists and turns in the earth. After some time, you make back to the first chamber.
>By the time you emerge from the tunnel, you find Momoka already walking over to the discarded wine bottle, a deep frown on her face.
>"What's this doing here?" she asks in a dismayed tone.
-
>"That my friend, is one of the wine bottles I mentioned earlier."
-
>"That my friend, is one of the wine bottles I mentioned earlier."
>"But what's it doing here?" she asks insistently.
-
>"Best guess? Whoever took the wine crate either dropped that one and didn't bother stopping. Or stopped to enjoy their gains, and tossed it before finishing it."
-
>"Best guess? Whoever took the wine crate either dropped that one and didn't bother stopping. Or stopped to enjoy their gains, and tossed it before finishing it."
>"I... I don't like this," she says simply. "This shouldn't be here."
-
>"Take a look around here. Anything else seem out of place to you?"
-
>"Take a look around here. Anything else seem out of place to you?"
>She stares disapprovingly at the bottle for a few more moments, then talks a walk around the room. She bends down next to the cork and picks it up, adjusting her glasses with her other hand. She regards it with dismay, then puts it back where she found it and does another circuit around the room.
>"Everything else looks normal," she says, then shakes her head and repeats. "I don't like this. This is my home."
-
>Give her a comforting pat on the shoulder.
>"Don't worry. We'll find whoever's responsible for this."
-
>Give her a comforting pat on the shoulder.
>"Don't worry. We'll find whoever's responsible for this."
>You give Momoka a comforting pat on the shoulder. She slumps a little.
>"Thank you," she says quietly, then slowly shakes her head.
-
>Point down the way towards the Rose.
>"You mentioned sealing the tunnel before, so, can you tell what opened it up again?"
-
>Point down the way towards the Rose.
>"You mentioned sealing the tunnel before, so, can you tell what opened it up again?"
>"Well, I couldn't tell from here," she says. "I only sealed up the part right where I came through. It would take a very long time to fill the whole tunnel back in and, well, I didn't think it'd matter... I mean, I would remember not to go back and dig there anymore." She looks towards it with a frown.
-
>Did we notice any signs of tools marks? Or that anything, other than claws, were employed in the formation and/or reopening of these tunnels?
>Does Momoka smell flowery? And is that scent still in the air down here?
-
"Would it help if we went and looked at the opening?"
-
>Did we notice any signs of tools marks? Or that anything, other than claws, were employed in the formation and/or reopening of these tunnels?
>Does Momoka smell flowery? And is that scent still in the air down here?
>You did not notice any especially obvious signs of tool marks, but you would not be surprised if a trowel or something were used to smooth out the more finished sections. Back at the entrance you took to get in here, the first short distance was notably smaller than the rest of the tunnel, and the claw marks were only visible beyond it.
>She does not. The scent in this room seems the same as it was earlier.
>"Would it help if we went and looked at the opening?"
>"I... suppose it could," she replies.
-
>"Let's have a look at that backdoor, first. Best to see if it's been tampered with."
-
>"Let's have a look at that backdoor, first. Best to see if it's been tampered with."
>She nods. "Okay. It's this way."
>She walks off and crawls deftly into another one of the adjoining tunnels.
-
>Follow that mole!
-
>Follow that mole!
>You follow Momoka into this new tunnel, after a short while emerging in another chamber, somewhat smaller than the last. As before, the mole manages to outpace you, and by the time you shimmy yourself out into the relative open she is already bent over and examining something on the ground near another tunnel entrance.
>"What is this?" she asks in a somewhat dismayed tone.
-
>"What is what?"
>Go have a closer look.
-
>"What is what?"
>Go have a closer look.
>"This," she repeats, pointing at a small object on the ground.
>You go take a closer look. It appears to be a small stone with a blue ribbon tied neatly around it, resting next to a tunnel entrance. There is a distinct floral scent to the ribbon; you're quite certain it matches the trail you've followed thus far.
-
>"I take it this doesn't belong here?"
>Do we detect any sort of magic about it?
-
>"I take it this doesn't belong here?"
>Do we detect any sort of magic about it?
>"No," she replies simply. "It doesn't."
>You're fairly certain it's just a rock with a ribbon on it.
-
Well folks, I'm thinking that whoever busted out of the crate and stole the wines left the ribbon behind.
Which would implicate a fairy of some sort, going by the ribbon's flower scent.
>Take the ribbon off the rock and stash it in a pocket.
-
>"It's possible that, if someone found your tunnels, they left this stone behind as a guide to lead them out. Might explain the smell, too, gives them something to follow."
-
>Take the ribbon off the rock and stash it in a pocket.
>You untie the ribbon and put it in your pocket.
>"It's possible that, if someone found your tunnels, they left this stone behind as a guide to lead them out. Might explain the smell, too, gives them something to follow."
>"Maybe..." she says, frowning.
-
>"But, on the bright side, anyone that leaves perfume and ribbons as trail markers can't be TOO bad."
>"Anything else seem out of place here, or just the accessorized rock?"
-
>"But, on the bright side, anyone that leaves perfume and ribbons as trail markers can't be TOO bad."
>"Anything else seem out of place here, or just the accessorized rock?"
>"They're still running about inside my home..." she pouts.
>"I don't think so," she says, doing another quick loop around the chamber. "But... this tunnel is the one that leads to the exit..." She stares down it with a worried expression on her face.
-
>"Let's see the exit itself."
>Examine the ribbon.
-
>"Let's see the exit itself."
>Examine the ribbon.
>"Yes, I think we should," she says fretfully, crawling into the tunnel the stone was found by.
>The ribbon is a simple affair, deep sky blue with white edging. It is around a half foot in length. Nothing about it looks especially distinctive.
-
>Follow our guide, and keep our senses sharp. We're probably getting close to SOMETHING, either way.
>"If you don't mind me asking, where does this exit let out?"
-
>Follow our guide, and keep our senses sharp. We're probably getting close to SOMETHING, either way.
>"If you don't mind me asking, where does this exit let out?"
>You follow after the mole youkai, keeping a keen watch out for whatever may be lying in wait for the two of you.
>"Past the meadows south of the city," she replies. "It's a long way out."
>And indeed, it does turn out to be an extended crawl, through a rather more straight tunnel than the others you've followed so far. After some minutes, the tunnel takes on a noticeable upward slope, but before anything of note or a possible exit comes into sight, Momoka stops abruptly.
-
>Ask in a quieter voice, "Something ahead?"
-
>Ask in a quieter voice, "Something ahead?"
>"Oh dear..." she response in a fretful voice. "Oh dear, oh dear...."
-
>Be prepared to draw a kunai.
>Look ahead.
-
>Be prepared to draw a kunai.
>Look ahead.
>You get ready to draw a kunai and then attempt to look ahead. Unfortunately, in the confined space, Momoka rather obscures the rest of the tunnel ahead of you. You try to peer around her and... is that sunlight? It's a little hard to tell with the light of your lantern so close at hand. Momoka continues to repeat herself, almost reflexively.
-
>"Calm down, Momoka! Tell me what's wrong."
-
>"Calm down, Momoka! Tell me what's wrong."
>"Look at my roof!" she cries, pointing upward and past her.
-
>Look at her roof!
-
>Look at her roof!
>You attempt to, but the slope of the tunnel and Momoka's awkwardly interposed form prevents you from seeing very much at all. But if that really WAS a shaft of sunlight you were seeing past her...
-
>"I can't really see much back here..."
-
>"I can't really see much back here..."
>"Oh!" she cries, and then scurries ahead. "Sorry!"
>With her out of the way, the source of the distress is very obvious: there is a sizable hole in the roof of the tunnel, through which a small ray of sunlight enters. Various piles of dirt and rock are strewn haphazardly about the ground below it.
>Momoka turns herself around in the tunnel - a remarkably deft maneuver, if you're honest - and then goes back to staring at it in deep dismay, fiddling nervously with her sleeve while she does so.
-
>"And that I do believe, is how the thief got in. Or out as the case may be."
>Does the hole look like a fairy could get through with some effort?
-
>"And that I do believe, is how the thief got in. Or out as the case may be."
>Does the hole look like a fairy could get through with some effort?
>Momoka makes no obvious reply, simply staring at the damage; the poor mole looks half-traumatized.
>You're pretty sure that a fairy could fit through there without much issue. You might be able to if you really squeezed yourself, though you're less sure on that.
-
>"Was did someone dig this, or did it fall in, or what?"
>Can we her anything through the hole?
-
>"Was did someone dig this, or did it fall in, or what?"
>Can we her anything through the hole?
>"Someone did this," she says. "Definitely. It wouldn't collapse like that. It's all wrong looking."
>You think you can hear a bird or two, distantly, but nothing that attracts your attention.
-
>"Yeah, I didn't think your handiwork would give up the ghost so easily. Where does this open up to?"
>Could we plausibly peek through the hole?
-
>"Yeah, I didn't think your handiwork would give up the ghost so easily. Where does this open up to?"
>Could we plausibly peek through the hole?
>"Well... given how far we've come," she says, "I'd say we're still past the south of the city. Maybe still in the meadows."
>Momoka has moved off to the other side of the hole, so you have room to move and look up through it if you wish.
-
>Go look through the hole. Poke our head out if possible and have a look around.
-
>Does it look like a 'dug with tools' hole or a 'blown open with a spell/explosive' hole?
-
>Go look through the hole. Poke our head out if possible and have a look around.
>You go and take a look through the hole. That is definitely sky up there, but it turns out that you're still deep enough underground to be unable to poke your head out without first managing to squeeze some of your body into the gap. It sounds quite quiet nearby; you're definitely outside most of Braston, though you couldn't say exactly where you are without having an actual look around, topside.
>Does it look like a 'dug with tools' hole or a 'blown open with a spell/explosive' hole?
>It looks dug with a tool, to your eye. While it is certainly a little haphazard, it lacks the true chaotic quality you would associate with an actual explosion; there doesn't appear to be nearly the debris you would expect if that were the case. In fact, you think you can see the tip of a mount of dirt peeking above the edge of the top of the hole.
-
>"So, what did this look like, on the outside?"
>Do we feel we can crawl out without getting stuck?
-
>"My guess? A fairy looking to cause some trouble dug this. It's too small for someone like us -Well, maybe not so much so for you- To fit through. But it's just about right for a fairy I'd say."
-
>"My guess? A fairy looking to cause some trouble dug this. It's too small for someone like us -Well, maybe not so much so for you- To fit through. But it's just about right for a fairy I'd say."
>Don't say this, we don't know the situation well enough to commit to anything.
-
Note that I said guess. That implies that it's a suspected possibility.
And based on the evidence so far, it's strongly leaning that way.
The floral scent at the beginning of the tunnel, the floral-scented ribbon discovered later, and the fairy-sized hole all point in that direction.
It's not too far in the realm of disbelief to say that a fairy could've hidden in the potato crate, waited for it to get put in the cellar, and then broke out somehow to steal whatever their little mitts could grab, and then they find the tunnel that Momoka dug, and use it to escape.
-
>"So, what did this look like, on the outside?"
>Do we feel we can crawl out without getting stuck?
>"What do you mean?" she asks.
>You could try. You probably won't get stuck, but it'll be tight.
-
>"Well, the escape tunnel had to open to outside, right? So what did it look like on the inside?"
-
>"Well, the escape tunnel had to open to outside, right? So what did it look like on the inside?"
>"It was just a wooden hatch," she says, "but we're still a little ways from it yet."
-
>"Let's go have a look at it, see if it's been messed with at all."
-
>"Let's go have a look at it, see if it's been messed with at all."
>Momoka frowns, then slowly nods. "Okay..."
>She turns herself around in the tunnel again and resumes moving forward.
-
>Keep up with her.
-
>Keep up with her.
>You follow after the mole, doing a rather better job of keeping pace with her than earlier; the damage to her tunnels seems to have taken some of the wind out of her sails.
>After another couple minutes of this, Momoka stops for a moment. Glancing past, you seem to have reached the end of the tunnel; you can vaguely make out a small wooden hatch built into the roof just beyond where she stopped.
>"Everything looks fine," she says tentatively, then fiddles with the hatch and pushes against it, letting out a little squeak of exertion. There is a deep creaking sound and then light and fresh air streams into the tunnel. Momoka pokes her head out; you see her turning about from down below.
>"I don't see anything out of place up here, either..." she says.
-
>"Let's have a look at it from the outside."
>Proceed to do so!
-
>Before we leave, did the tunnel beyond the scented rock smell flowery? And were there any other scents along the way?
-
>Before we leave, did the tunnel beyond the scented rock smell flowery? And were there any other scents along the way?
>There were still faint traces of that scent past that point, though nothing else in particular caught your attention.
>"Let's have a look at it from the outside."
>Proceed to do so!
>"Um... okay, I guess," she says, then hoists herself out of the tunnel and disappears.
>You follow after her, working your way out the hatch and onto the open ground beside it.
>You appear to in a moderately wooded area, which would definitely put you a decent distance past most of the city; you can see some traces of it far off through the trees. Your immediate area shows no signs of anything unusual, as far as you can see, nor traces of humanoid passage. The hatch itself looks like it has a covering of sod and vegetation attached to the back of it; you imagine it would do a good job of blending in, even if someone where to wander out this way.
>"I'm glad this is still okay," Momoka says, a little glumly.
-
>"Yeah, this is really well made. I'm starting to think someone got into your tunnel by accident."
>How far away is the hole from here? And Momoka's home.
-
>"Yeah, this is really well made. I'm starting to think someone got into your tunnel by accident."
>How far away is the hole from here? And Momoka's home.
>A hint of a smile brushes across her troubled face. "Thank you. And... maybe...? But what were they digging for, then?"
>The hole is probably only a minute or two's walk closer to town. Momoka's house is significantly harder to guess at, given how twisting the earlier tunnels were - substantially further than that, at the very least.
-
>"Let's go see."
>Head for that hole!
-
>"Let's go see."
>Head for that hole!
>"Ah, um, er..." Momoka looks about, seemingly a little flustered. "O- okay."
>She closes the hatch again, fussing with the edges of it just a little to cover over the seems; seeing it this way, it does indeed provide very good camouflage. Then she scrambles after you.
>You head off in the direction of Momoka's tunnel from above ground, keeping an eye out for anything unusual while the mole ambles behind you. It is barely a minute before you reach the edge of the denser trees and pass into the meadows beyond. Braston is clearly visible along most of the northern horizon, obscured here and there by a large stately elm or oak; you know some fairies live out in this general direction, and you wouldn't be surprised if one of those trees concealed a tiny home.
>Sooner than you expect, you spot traces of digging - piles of churned soil deposited in a loose cluster in the distance. Except... that shouldn't be on top of the tunnel at all, unless you've managed to get your bearings very wrong somehow. Wait a minute... there's another, over by a small hill even further in the distance.
>"What is it?" Momoka asks, attempting to stare in the same direction as you are.
-
>"Someone's been digging for treasure, I bet."
>Have a look around the area, and check the trees.
-
>"Someone's been digging for treasure, I bet."
>Have a look around the area, and check the trees.
>"What?" she asks, turning to you for a moment and then peering harder into the distance. You get the distinct impression she can't actually see what you're referring to, at least judging by the expression on her face.
>You start to move across the field towards the nearest cluster of dirt piles, examining any large trees you pass by along the way. As you suspected, the piles are indicative of a hole, roughly the same size as the one that was dug into Momoka's network. There doesn't appear to be anything of interest either in the hole or around it, nor any particular reason you can see why someone would dig a hole in that exact spot. It isn't very deep, either.
>Momoka stares at it with a sort of vague disapproval. "It's not a very good hole," she says quietly.
>You continue on to the next set of dirt piles, the mole youkai eventually trailing after you. This turns out to be much the same as the last. As you work your way across the field, you find about a half-dozen holes, some deeper than others, but none with any real clues as to their purpose or their builder - at least beyond what one might suspect simply from there being a series of random, apparently pointless holes scattered haphazardly about.
>As you move off towards the hill, a glint of light catches your eye from among the boughs of a particularly large tree. Peering at it more closely, it seems to be a reflection off a small window, mostly obscured by the foliage.
-
>Gesture toward it, and assuming Momoka doesn't balk at the idea, approach it.
-
>"When you were building this exit here, did you happen to notice any fairy's about? Or any other times you've been out this way?"
-
>Gesture toward it, and assuming Momoka doesn't balk at the idea, approach it.
>You gesture towards the window. Momoka's eyes follow your gesture and she squints at the tree.
>"What is it?" she asks.
>"When you were building this exit here, did you happen to notice any fairy's about? Or any other times you've been out this way?"
>"Oh, there's often some out and about down here," she says, "But I tried to be discreet when I was putting the door in. What, is there one up in that tree now?"
>She adjusts her glasses and cranes her neck forward a little, as if an extra inch or two were supposed to make some difference at this range.
-
>"There's a small window in there. Could be a fairy house."
-
>"There's a small window in there. Could be a fairy house."
>"Oh. There is?" She peers closer, though you see no sign of recognition on her face.
-
>"I'll go in for a closer look, so I can confirm that."
>Let's go up for a closer look, climbing the tree some if need be.
-
>"I'll go in for a closer look, so I can confirm that."
>Let's go up for a closer look, climbing the tree some if need be.
>"Um, okay," she says. "But... why?"
>You approach the tree for a closer look. As you near the trunk, there is no longer any doubt that a small house is nestled among the sheltering boughs of the tree's center, blending in quite well despite its size; you can still only see snatches of wooden walls and a hint of a door between the leaves. The branches seem almost to grow around the walls of the house; it might well have been here for a large part of the tree's life.
-
>"See?"
>Look around, see if we can find the front door.
>Do we smell anything interesting around here?
-
>"See?"
>Look around, see if we can find the front door.
>Do we smell anything interesting around here?
>Momoka squints at the tree. "...maybe? My- my eyes aren't very good, I'm afraid." She gives you a little self-conscious smile.
>You circle around the tree. The front and apparently only door is not difficult to spot when you put your mind to it, though you'd need to climb up a ways to get at it.
>You can smell oak and fresh grass and flowers, and some sort of... banana loaf, you think. The floral scent you're smelling is from the meadow around you, you believe; it does not seem to quite match the one you detected in the tunnel, though there may be faint traces of that around the wider area you've been walking through.
-
>"There's definately a little house up there."
>No furthur sign of the scent of the wine from back in the tunnel?
>Any outward indication that someone's home?
-
>"There's definately a little house up there."
>No furthur sign of the scent of the wine from back in the tunnel?
>Any outward indication that someone's home?
>"I... think I can make it out," Momoka says.
>Not as far as you can tell.
>There's no obvious indication that anyone's home, but neither is there the opposite; you still can't see the house particularly clearly.
-
>Would we be able to distinguish the metal in the wine crate from the metal in the house's construction?
-
>Would we be able to distinguish the metal in the wine crate from the metal in the house's construction?
>You might be able to distinguish metal in the house's structure from metal inside the house, but you wouldn't be able to tell a nail holding a table together from one holding a box together.
-
>"Well, may as well see if anyone's home."
>Call up, "Hello up there!"
-
>"Well, may as well see if anyone's home."
>Call up, "Hello up there!"
>"Um, I guess so?" Momoka says tentatively.
>You call out to the tree. A few moments you hear the sound of something sliding against wood and a small voice calls back: "Hello down there!"
-
>Can we see the speaker?
-
>Can we see the speaker?
>No, although she is definitely speaking from the direction of the house.
-
>"Beautiful day out, isn't it?"
>"This might sound a bit strange, but, have any of your neighbors been doing some digging around here?"
-
>"Beautiful day out, isn't it?"
>"This might sound a bit strange, but, have any of your neighbors been doing some digging around here?"
>"Beaming Dandelion was digging for buried treasure!" the voice responds.
-
>Quietly to Momoka, "See?"
>To the speaker above: "Did she find any?"
-
>Quietly to Momoka, "See?"
>To the speaker above: "Did she find any?"
>Momoka frowns a little. "Oh dear..."
>"Uhh.... don't know!" comes the reply.
-
>Look about for another fairyhearth nearby.
>If none present themselves, "She live 'round here?"
-
>Look about for another fairyhearth nearby.
>If none present themselves, "She live 'round here?"
>While you have no doubt there are more around in the general area, you don't see any other fairy dwellings at the moment.
>"Yup!" the voice says. "Over thataway!"
-
>We can't see which direction she's indicating, can we?
-
>We can't see which direction she's indicating, can we?
>Most certainly not; you still can't even see the fairy at all.
-
>Figured.
>Extend a hand outward in any direction. "Thisaway?"
-
>Figured.
>Extend a hand outward in any direction. "Thisaway?"
>"No, thataway!" comes the emphatic reply. "Thisaway is where Sleepy Ficus lives, silly."
-
>Facepalm.
Alorns! Fairys....
>"Right. Silly me."
>"Mind pointing me thataway? Seems to have slipped my mind."
-
>Facepalm. Alorns! Fairys....
>"Right. Silly me."
>"Mind pointing me thataway? Seems to have slipped my mind."
>You facepalm. Fairies aren't exactly the most level-headed of informants...
>"I am pointing, silly," she replies. You hear a little giggle. "See? Thataway."
-
>"Matter of fact, I can't see you. Unless you can teach me the secret of looking through a tree."
-
>"Matter of fact, I can't see you. Unless you can teach me the secret of looking through a tree."
>"Ooo.... that would be a really neat secret!" she says. "I could win hide and seek all the time if I could see through trees! I wonder where the secret is hidden...." she adds in a serious tone. "Do you know where it is?"
-
>Oh, great, we've inspiried a fairy to acquire the powers of wood-based x-ray-vision.
>"'fraid not. But Beaming Dandelion might know. You said she was digging for treasure, maybe she unearthed the secret. Let's go ask her."
-
>Oh, great, we've inspiried a fairy to acquire the powers of wood-based x-ray-vision.
>"'fraid not. But Beaming Dandelion might know. You said she was digging for treasure, maybe she unearthed the secret. Let's go ask her."
>"Oh." There is a pause. "Oh! Yes, let's!"
>You hear the sound of a door opening and a tawny-haired fairy in a green dress flits nimbly downward through the boughs of the tree. She waves you eastward and then twists and takes off in that direction. "Come on!"
>Momoka turns and gives you a somewhat bemused look, almost like she's having trouble keeping up.
-
>Give her a knowing nod. "Yeah. Fairys have that effect on a person, it's just easier to try and roll on their level. I'm starting to get used to it." Pause. "And yes, that does scare me a little."
>Fall in behind that fairy.
-
>Give her a knowing nod. "Yeah. Fairys have that effect on a person, it's just easier to try and roll on their level. I'm starting to get used to it." Pause. "And yes, that does scare me a little."
>Fall in behind that fairy.
>Momoka glances after the fairy and frowns slightly. "Oh my..."
>You follow after the energetic fairy as she darts through the air towards a small treed hill, some distance away. Momoka lags behind the two of you, looking more than a little flustered, but still doing her best to keep up. After a few moments, you start to suspect the fairy has forgotten about you altogether as she dives through the trees at the top of the hill as soon as she reaches them and then disappears inside.
-
>Well, at least she pointed us in the right direction. Eventually.
>Wait for Momoka to catch up, then start looking around the trees for this Dandelion abode.
>Also look for a river, in the event our canteen's still empty.
-
>Well, at least she pointed us in the right direction. Eventually.
>Wait for Momoka to catch up, then start looking around the trees for this Dandelion abode.
>Also look for a river, in the event our canteen's still empty.
>Hopefully this will be enough of a help from her.
>You wait for Momoka to catch up to you. The poor thing really doesn't seem able to move very quickly above ground, and she's still wearing that vaguely dismayed expression when she reaches you; you're almost starting to think of it as her default state. Once reunited, you head carefully up and over the hill at a more gentle pace, keeping a close eye out for signs of fairy habitation. However, you aren't at this for very long before you hear sounds of the fairy who guided you here babbling excitedly, not far off.
>While a river does run through Braston, you're quite a ways away from it at the moment.
-
>Or a pond, any source of fresh water. Our poor companion could probably use a drink.
>Move towards the babbling fey.
-
>Or a pond, any source of fresh water. Our poor companion could probably use a drink.
>Move towards the babbling fey.
>There are also no ponds in your immediate vicinity, though Braston itself is not so far away now, if you wanted to detour for refreshment. For her part, Momoka looks more addled by the situation than actually exhausted.
>You follow the voice, moving more quickly through the trees. Very soon, the hill slopes downward again and you find yourself in something of a small shallow valley ringed with broad trees and gentle rises. You can spot a tiny wooden cottage a short distance away, nestled under an overhang in the hill behind it. Thick roots from the trees above trace down the curve of the terrain and over parts of the dwelling like a gnarled blanket. Your guide is standing in front of its open door and gesticulating enthusiastically.
>"But you had to have found something cool!" she cries. You hear a vaguely disgruntled groan answer her.
-
>Stop and listen for a moment.
-
>Stop and listen for a moment.
>You stop and listen some more.
>"C'mon, c'mon, what was it?" the first fairy presses. You hear a small mumble from inside, which the fairy at the door seems to take no notice of at all. "Was it something shiny? Buried treasure is usually shiny, right? Wait, does that mean that if a secret's buried, it gets shiny too? Did you find any shiny secrets?"
>"Ughh... stop... talking so fast..." comes a slow and thick grumble from inside the house.
>"What does a shiny secret look like, anyway?" she continues. "Looking through trees would make you invincible at hide and seek, but if the secret made you all shiny too, even Myrtle Sprig would be able to find you if you were hiding, and that's no good at all!"
>Her counterpart lets out a pained moan. "Uwagh, my ears..." she says pitiably.
-
>...
>Does that sound like a fairy with a hangover?
-
>...
>Does that sound like a fairy with a hangover?
>It... might very well indeed, actually.
-
Good call on the fairy front, Hanzo.
>Well, then.
>To Momoka, "Well, there's your hole-digger, alright. And by the sounds of it, she got more than she bargined for."
>Call up, but not TOO loudly. "Tasty juice had a nasty secret, didn't it?"
-
>Well, then.
>To Momoka, "Well, there's your hole-digger, alright. And by the sounds of it, she got more than she bargined for."
>"Oh my..." she says, her frown taking on a more concerned tone. "Did a fairy really drink that whole bottle at one go?"
>Call up, but not TOO loudly. "Tasty juice had a nasty secret, didn't it?"
>You call out to the fairies.
>The visible one turns to you, a puzzled expression on her face. "But I thought the secrets were shiny?"
>"What juice?" the other fairy replies. "I... got no juice." Then in a more pained tone, "Why do people keep talking to me, anyway..."
-
>To Momoka, "If she did, I'm kinda surprised she's active at all at this point."
>"Oh, I think the bottle was shiny enough, wasn't it?"
>"And, that ache behind your eyes, that headache in your whole body? That's called a hangover."
-
>To Momoka, "If she did, I'm kinda surprised she's active at all at this point."
>"Oh, I think the bottle was shiny enough, wasn't it?"
>"And, that ache behind your eyes, that headache in your whole body? That's called a hangover."
>"Well, fairies are sometimes surprisingly resilient," Momoka says. "But still..." She turns her concerned frown back toward the tiny root-wreathed cottage and squints at it.
>"What bottle?" the first fairy says. You hear a groan from inside. "A shiny bottle? A shiny secret bottle?"
>Her eyes widen and she does a little pirouette to face the inside of the cottage once more. "Was that the buried treasure?" The awe in her voice is practically palpable.
>You think you hear her companion begin to reply, but before more than a single coherent syllable can pass her lips, the other fairy interjects.
>"I wanna see!" she cries shrilly, accompanied almost simultaneously by a yelp from inside. Momoka's frown deepens.
-
>"No need to shout. Dandelion here has a massive headache."
>Address Dandelion, and try to keep our voice at a reasonable level. We've been hungover ourselves, after all. "You found a long tunnel when you were digging, didn't you?"
-
>"No need to shout. Dandelion here has a massive headache."
>Address Dandelion, and try to keep our voice at a reasonable level. We've been hungover ourselves, after all. "You found a long tunnel when you were digging, didn't you?"
>"But that's no fun," the fairy pouts.
>"How'd you know?" Dandelion mumbles. "You... some kinda... mind-reader person... person?"
>"Wow, you'd be really good at hide and seek!" the other cries, drawing a predictable response from the other fairy.
-
>Give Dandelion a smirk. "Youkai. So, you wanna tell me what else you found down there, or should I take a 'guess'?"
-
>Give Dandelion a smirk. "Youkai. So, you wanna tell me what else you found down there, or should I take a 'guess'?"
>"Ugh... maybe tomorrow," Dandelion says, then closes the door. You hear another groan issue from inside afterward.
>"Oooo... I wanna hear you guess!" the other fairy says.
-
Anybody got any ideas how to handle a hungover fairy?
>Speak louder. Just for Dandelion. "Sure. She found a big room full of food and drinks. And she decided to take a box of drinks with her." Pause. "In shiny bottles."
>Point to Momoka with our tail. "And this nice lady made that long tunnel Dandelion found. And was upset to see a hole in her roof, I might add."
-
Dunk her in a trough of water. It worked for Inigo Montoya and it'll work for her.
-
>Speak louder. Just for Dandelion. "Sure. She found a big room full of food and drinks. And she decided to take a box of drinks with her." Pause. "In shiny bottles."
>You raise your voice for the 'benefit' of the hungover fairy. The one still outside beams at your description.
>"Wow, there's a whole room buried down there?" she says.
>Point to Momoka with our tail. "And this nice lady made that long tunnel Dandelion found. And was upset to see a hole in her roof, I might add."
>Momoka shifts uncomfortably as you include her in the discussion. The fairy looks at her appraisingly.
>"Were you looking for buried treasure, too?" she asks.
>"Err, well... uh, not exactly," Momoka says, frowning. "I- I just live down there. That was my home your friend put a hole though."
>"You live underground?" the fairy asks in a hushed tone.
>Momoka hesitates, glancing briefly at you, then gives a tentative nod. "I- I guess you could say that."
>The fairy gives her a dubious look. "Does that mean you're buried treasure too, then?"
>The poor mole stops stock still for a moment, then gives you a look that practically cries 'Help...'
-
>"She's not that kind of treasure."
>Consider Dandelion. Does she look like she could have moved all that stuff in the way of the hole? Or get a crate of wine through it?
-
>"She's not that kind of treasure."
>Consider Dandelion. Does she look like she could have moved all that stuff in the way of the hole? Or get a crate of wine through it?
>"What kinda treasure is she, then?" the fairy asks. Momoka gives you a dismayed look and seems almost to shrink in on herself.
>You technically never saw Dandelion, as she was well inside the house the whole time and your angle didn't give you much vantage. However, even if she were a particularly large fairy, you imagine moving that large crate of potatoes would be a very tall order. If the case of wine was similar weight to the other small ones that you saw in the storeroom, you think she could probably manage that much without too much difficulty, however.
-
Dunk her in a trough of water. It worked for Inigo Montoya and it'll work for her.
Damn you, now I miss Andre again.
>When Dandelion had her door open, could we detect the scent of wine from inside the house? .. Or vomit?
-
>When Dandelion had her door open, could we detect the scent of wine from inside the house? .. Or vomit?
>You were reasonably far away and the breeze wasn't favorable to picking up a whole lot while out in the open, but you may have gotten a whiff of wine from the house. You certainly detected nothing that smelled like the latter; to be honest, you're not even sure if fairies can throw up.
-
That answers my next question.
>Give Momoka an understanding and sympathetic look. Not everyone's cut out to handle fairys, after all. "The kind that likes to stay undergound."
>Louder, "Look, if you give me back the crate, and whatever bottles you have left, I'll tell you how to help that sick feeling go away faster."
-
>Give Momoka an understanding and sympathetic look. Not everyone's cut out to handle fairys, after all. "The kind that likes to stay undergound."
>Louder, "Look, if you give me back the crate, and whatever bottles you have left, I'll tell you how to help that sick feeling go away faster."
>"That's boring," the fairy replies. Momoko looks uncertain of how she should take this.
>"...s'my treasure," you hear Dandelion mumble. "Found it... fair and square..."
-
>"Some treasure likes to stay at home."
>Loudly, "Well, no, it isn't. It belongs to someone else. Someone who's a lot louder than me. And if she doesn't get her stuff back, that sick feeling of yours is only gonna worse."
-
I got an idea guys, it's a bit mean. But it might just work.
-
Lesse if Dandelion agrees to give the stuff back first. If not, then, maybe a little meanness might be called for.
-
It'll get it back for sure, all it takes is a little cleverness.
And it wouldn't be too far from the truth, as when she's got no booze to chug, she won't get the hangover anymore.
See, my idea was that we'd tell little ol' dandy there that the stuff in the crate's got a curse that not many can resist, and she got a pretty bad dose of it, and that it'll only get worse the longer she's got the stuff around.
But if she hands it over to us to give it to the proper owner, it'll fade eventually.
...Come to think of it, that's a pretty apt description of what booze is period.
-
As an old irishman at heart, I feel the need to say "Oi! How dare ya!" Sour likes his whiskey.
That said, however, your average fairy would probably buy that story. If my last command doesn't work, then I say sure, give it a bash. Sounds like a good idea.
-
>"Some treasure likes to stay at home."
>"But treasure's supposed to be found, isn't it?" the fairy says. "That's why it was buried, right?"
>"I- I'm not treasure," Momoko blurts out. "I'm just a used book merchant with a large cellar..."
>The fairy looks a bit disappointed.
>Loudly, "Well, no, it isn't. It belongs to someone else. Someone who's a lot louder than me. And if she doesn't get her stuff back, that sick feeling of yours is only gonna worse."
>The fairy outside lets out a little gasp. "The treasure was cursed?!"
>You hear a faint groan from Dandelion.
-
*grin*
Hanzo, would you care to do the honors?
-
....Or the fairy could make a surprisingly smart conclusion. :derp:
I never thought ol' dandy would make that guess. Helps us though.
>"In a way, there's a rare few that can resist it though. Sadly, fairies aren't among it. If anything, they feel it worse than most."
>Walk up to closer so they can see us better, and grimace exaggeratedly, yet in a believable way. "And it's only gonna get worse, I've been there before. Wasn't fun at all."
-
>"In a way, there's a rare few that can resist it though. Sadly, fairies aren't among it. If anything, they feel it worse than most."
>Walk up to closer so they can see us better, and grimace exaggeratedly, yet in a believable way. "And it's only gonna get worse, I've been there before. Wasn't fun at all."
>"Oh no!" the fairy cries, putting her hands to her cheeks in exaggerated display of dismay.
>You walk closer to Dandelion's house, though you have no idea if this will help Dandelion see you from inside it - you don't see her in the window, at any rate - and recount the pains of excessive drunkenness. Man, that feels like way more than a week ago now... The fairy's frown deepens to an almost comical degree.
>"You just... want it for yourself," Dandelion groans.
-
>"I'm trying to help you. And if you don't let me get that... treasure, back to where it belongs, then you're only gonna feel worse and worse. But, if you give me the box, and everything left that was inside it, and you say you're sorry to this nice lady for damaging her roof, then you'll be curse-free, and be feeling better before the end of the day."
-
>"I'm trying to help you. And if you don't let me get that... treasure, back to where it belongs, then you're only gonna feel worse and worse. But, if you give me the box, and everything left that was inside it, and you say you're sorry to this nice lady for damaging her roof, then you'll be curse-free, and be feeling better before the end of the day."
>"...'s a trick," Dandelion says.
>"It's cursed! The treasure's all cursed!" the other fairy cries suddenly, then takes to the air and barrels through the woods. "We're dooooomed!" The final syllable trails loudly in her wake. Man, she's got some lung capacity for a little thing...
>Dandelion moans pitiably.
-
Fairy stubbornness is starting to wear on me.
Unless someone has a better idea, I say we threaten her with something like "Either you can let me help you, or I kick down your door and do it FOR you."
-
I think it would help if we just talked louder. A bit at a time.
-
For a fairy, Dandelion's pretty stubborn, might need to knock the idea into her head.
Either figuratively or literally, situation depending.
-
For her door's sake, she'd better come around soon. I for one didn't crawl through all those tunnels to be thwarted by Fairy stubborn.
>A little louder. "Is not! I help people! I get things to where they need to be, where they'll be safe. And where fairys will be safe from nasty headaches and upset tummies and curses of..." Take a deep breath. "DOOOOOOOOOOOOM!"
-
>A little louder. "Is not! I help people! I get things to where they need to be, where they'll be safe. And where fairys will be safe from nasty headaches and upset tummies and curses of..." Take a deep breath. "DOOOOOOOOOOOOM!"
>You raise you voice a bit and try to explain your position in simple terms. And then you positively belt out a final dire warning.
>"Ahhhhhhhhh!!!" Dandelion cries out miserably, her voice ringing in stereo with your own shout. Even Momoka cringes a little.
-
>"SEE?"
-
>"SEE?"
>"I- If I give you a bottle..." she groans pitiably, "...will you... go away?"
-
>"NOT IF YOU STILL HAVE ANY. IT HAS TO BE EVERYTHING THAT'S LEFT, OR ELSE."
-
>Can we get closer? Let's get closer.
-
>Can we get closer? Let's get closer.
>You can still get a little closer. You move right up next to the door.
>"NOT IF YOU STILL HAVE ANY. IT HAS TO BE EVERYTHING THAT'S LEFT, OR ELSE."
>And then you scream at it. Dandelion makes a noise like she were being strangled and then seems almost to start sobbing.
>"J- just take it..." she moans. "...meanie..."
>Momoka frowns.
-
>Glance at Momoka, and say, quietly. "I know, it seems mean, but, it's for the best. This way, she won't be hungover again."
>Try the door.
>If it's unlocked, open it quietly and look for the crate.
-
>Try to keep as quiet as our church-dwelling brethren, and assess things inside once we get inside.
-
>Glance at Momoka, and say, quietly. "I know, it seems mean, but, it's for the best. This way, she won't be hungover again."
>Momoka gives you a dubious frown and her eyes glance towards the window. "But... still...."
>Try the door.
>If it's unlocked, open it quietly and look for the crate.
>Try to keep as quiet as our church-dwelling brethren, and assess things inside once we get inside.
>You try the door and find it unlocked, so you open it as quietly as you can. A potent bouquet of wine strikes you the moment you do so, detectable even from outside but strikingly so without a door in the way; you're fairly certain there's more than one bottle involved here. You have to duck a little to make it past the door frame and your head rubs against the ceiling as you enter, but you make it inside without being too uncomfortable.
>The interior of the home is a one-room affair, decorated in a rustic style. There is a small table and pantry in one corner, and a bed and dresser in another. You note a yellow hard hat and small mining pick hung on a wooden peg against the wall near the entrance, along with a pair of bright rubber boots, a small green satchel, and other assorted minutia. On the table are several uncorked bottles in dark green and red glass; from here it is difficult to determine how empty they are. The case itself is not hard to find in the small space, however. You spot it resting text to the table, its top removed along with a decent chunk of its contents, at least assuming it was full in the first place.
>There is a large lump underneath the bed sheets; it seems to be groaning.
-
>Take the top of the crate and pass it out to Momoka. Whisper, "Hold this, please."
>As quietly as possible, recork all the bottles that seem full, place them in the crate.
>Is there any trace of that flowery scent in here?
-
>Take the top of the crate and pass it out to Momoka. Whisper, "Hold this, please."
>As quietly as possible, recork all the bottles that seem full, place them in the crate.
>Is there any trace of that flowery scent in here?
>Momoka elected not to follow you in, so you take the lid of the crate and quietly step outside again to hand it to her. She accepts it with a slightly puzzled expression.
>"Um, ok," she responds, holding the lid like she isn't quite sure if she's expected to be doing anything with it.
>You head back inside. Quickly surveying the open bottles, you find that not a one of them is full and a couple are entirely empty.
>The house does distinctly have that same scent that you detected in the tunnels. If it's not coming from Dandelion herself, then it's probably something else around her person.
-
>My jar, this fairy can pack it away.
>Take a moment to trace the smell. Quietly, of course. We're not trying to badger the poor fairy anymore.
-
>My jar, this fairy can pack it away.
>Take a moment to trace the smell. Quietly, of course. We're not trying to badger the poor fairy anymore.
>It's actually a little frightening, though you suppose she has had some time to work on it. But it's no wonder she's suffering.
>You try to pin down the scent. It's fairly well-spread throughout the dwelling, but you do suspect it's coming from the fairy herself - probably either perfume or her natural scent; fairies often smell a little like the various parts of nature they're attuned to. In fact, now that you think of it, there is sort of a hint of dandelions to it.
-
>Hmmm. So Honey smelled like Honey?
>Approach Dandelion as quietly as her floorboards will allow, and kneel by her bedside. Whisper, "Before I leave, would you mind if I asked you one more question?"
>If she acquesces, "Did you leave a blue ribbon in that tunnel?"
-
>Hmmm. So Honey smelled like Honey?
>Approach Dandelion as quietly as her floorboards will allow, and kneel by her bedside. Whisper, "Before I leave, would you mind if I asked you one more question?"
>If she acquesces, "Did you leave a blue ribbon in that tunnel?"
>You think it would be more likely she smelled like a Honeysuckle, actually, though names are far from being in a one-to-one correspondence with scent; you've heard more than a few fairies named after confections that are certainly no phenomenon of nature, and they weren't inclined to smell like cheesecake or cotton candy. Honey did have a generally light flowery scent, though less noticeable than Dandelion's seems to be.
>She groans and twists over beneath the sheets. "And then will you go away?"
>You take this as enough of an affirmative and ask your question. "Uh... did I? I... don't remember. Everything's all blurry."
-
>"Yeah, that's one of the problems with this situation. Plays tricks with your memory."
>"Just stay in bed today. You'll be fine before midnight. Just don't do this again; it feels even worse the second time 'round."
>"And I'm sorry, if you think I was being mean. But it was important I get this stuff back. After all, do you ever want to feel this bad again?"
>Are the curtains drawn?
EDIT: >Keep our voice very low for all that, of course.
-
>"Yeah, that's one of the problems with this situation. Plays tricks with your memory."
>"Just stay in bed today. You'll be fine before midnight. Just don't do this again; it feels even worse the second time 'round."
>"And I'm sorry, if you think I was being mean. But it was important I get this stuff back. After all, do you ever want to feel this bad again?"
EDIT: >Keep our voice very low for all that, of course.
>You quietly give the poor suffering fairy a little advice. Her only reply is an incoherent mumble, but hopefully at least some part of it is getting through to her.
>Are the curtains drawn?
>They are not.
-
I'm glad your approach worked, Purvis. I really didn't want to break the poor thing's door down.
>Shake our head, but smile.
>Quietly draw the curtains for the poor little thing, then retrieve the crate of wine and depart, closing Dandelion's door behind us, very quietly.
>Walk a bit aways from Dandelion's abode before we reattach the crate lid.
-
>Shake our head, but smile.
>Quietly draw the curtains for the poor little thing, then retrieve the crate of wine and depart, closing Dandelion's door behind us, very quietly.
>Walk a bit aways from Dandelion's abode before we reattach the crate lid.
>You shake your head and give the disheveled lump of bedsheets a smile.
>Then you go and quietly close the curtains, pick up the case of wine, and exit the house, closing the door gently after yourself.
>Momoka falls in behind you as you walk away from the dwelling, still holding the lid awkwardly. After a short distance you relieve her of it and put it back onto the case.
>"But, um..." Momoka says, glancing back at the house. "What about my roof...?"
-
>"I know, and I'm sorry I didn't adress that more. But, given the state she was in, I'm amazed I even got her to agree to give back the wines. I didn't think I could get any more out of her at that moment."
>Do we think we could carry the crate back through the tunnels comfortably?
>"She wouldn't listen to me anymore, anyway, I did say I'd go away, after all. But, nobody said you had to. You can try, if you'd like, but I'm really not sure you'd get much of anything out of her. At least not now; maybe when she sobers up."
>"I'll tell ya this, though. After this experience, I'll bet she'll find somewhere else to go digging for treasure. I reckon your tunnels are safe from her now."
-
>"I know, and I'm sorry I didn't adress that more. But, given the state she was in, I'm amazed I even got her to agree to give back the wines. I didn't think I could get any more out of her at that moment."
>"She wouldn't listen to me anymore, anyway, I did say I'd go away, after all. But, nobody said you had to. You can try, if you'd like, but I'm really not sure you'd get much of anything out of her. At least not now; maybe when she sobers up."
>"I'll tell ya this, though. After this experience, I'll bet she'll find somewhere else to go digging for treasure. I reckon your tunnels are safe from her now."
>Momoka frowns a little. "Well... maybe...."
>Do we think we could carry the crate back through the tunnels comfortably?
>It might be a little awkward, but it should be doable.
-
>"You know what to look for, at least. Um, how hard is it going to be to fill in that hole?"
>Ponder if Braston has any regulations for basements...
-
>"You know what to look for, at least. Um, how hard is it going to be to fill in that hole?"
>Ponder if Braston has any regulations for basements...
>"It's... going to take quite a bit of work, I'm afraid," she says sadly. "And I'm... still afraid it might happen again. I mean, I know what you just said and it does make sense, but..."
>You're not too familiar with Braston's building laws in general, although you don't think things are too highly regulated; at least the disorder with which some sections of town appear to have sprung up might imply otherwise. Laws aside, you can imagine that some people, at least, might not be happy to know that someone's been tunneling under their property...
-
>"It'll be something to deal with once she sleeps it off. But you know where to find her, so it shouldn't be too hard."
-
>"And then there's the issue of the tunnel that connects with the Rose's cellar. The owner's gonna want to know about it, and how a fairy got her hands on a crate of wine."
-
>"It'll be something to deal with once she sleeps it off. But you know where to find her, so it shouldn't be too hard."
>"Maybe..." Momoka says slowly. "I don't think there's much she could do to help, but maybe I could ask her not to do it again..."
>"And then there's the issue of the tunnel that connects with the Rose's cellar. The owner's gonna want to know about it, and how a fairy got her hands on a crate of wine."
>Momoka cringes a little. "Y- yes, I know..." She takes a deep breath and lets it out as a sigh. "I... guess I'm going to have to talk to her." She looks distinctly displeased at this prospect, perhaps even a little frightened.
-
>"That may not be necessary."
-
>"Wanna come back with me? I can help explain."
>How does the law treat faeries?
-
>"That may not be necessary."
>She gives you an uncertain look. "What do you mean?"
>"Wanna come back with me? I can help explain."
>How does the law treat faeries?
>She seems taken a little off-guard by this, then pauses and averts her gaze slightly. "You... really don't have to..."
>Theoretically, you think the same rules apply to them as anyone else. In practical terms, most people acknowledge a certain amount of unenforceability; despite whatever penalties one might levy or whatever warnings one might try to impart, many of them are liable to do as they please or perhaps even forget all about the fact that they're not supposed to be doing something. Permanent incarceration isn't really a tenable solution, so this just becomes something people try to deal with as best they can. Typically, the watch will at least try to levy a fine for petty theft, or rope the fairy into community service of some sort, though this is sometimes left up to people who know the fairy better, and might be able to come up with a penalty that would mean more.
-
>"I may not need to mention your name at all to her. A fairy was the one that broke open the tunnel, after all; a fairy stole the goods."
-
>"I may not need to mention your name at all to her. A fairy was the one that broke open the tunnel, after all; a fairy stole the goods."
>"But that's... not really entirely honest, is it?" she says, looking down. "And even if you said that, they're going to wonder how a fairy could dig a tunnel that long. And why it's connected to my house. And the fairy will probably say she just found all those tunnels down there already and they'll believe her because no fairy could have dug all of that and... and..." She frowns deeply.
-
>"You're worrying too much. This was all an accident; you never meant to hit that cellar, Dandelion didn't know it was down there. She didn't even know the wine belonged to anyone. But end of the day, you didn't do anything wrong, and I think Dandelion's learned her lesson. Or at least as much as a fairy can, anyway."
>"That said, however, if you think you should come with me, explain your side of things, then that's your call. And I'll be there to try and make sure you don't get in trouble for something that wasn't really your fault. After all, you DID say that you sealed that tunnel off after you found the Rose's cellar. Not your fault some fairy came along and unsealed it later."
-
>"You're worrying too much. This was all an accident; you never meant to hit that cellar, Dandelion didn't know it was down there. She didn't even know the wine belonged to anyone. But end of the day, you didn't do anything wrong, and I think Dandelion's learned her lesson. Or at least as much as a fairy can, anyway."
>"That said, however, if you think you should come with me, explain your side of things, then that's your call. And I'll be there to try and make sure you don't get in trouble for something that wasn't really your fault. After all, you DID say that you sealed that tunnel off after you found the Rose's cellar. Not your fault some fairy came along and unsealed it later."
>"It... mightn't be," she says, fiddling with her sleeve, "but she still wouldn't have been able to do it without my work. And I still broke into their storeroom, even if it was an accident..."
>She is silent for a moment, then looks up at you with a mild alarm on her face. "Please don't misunderstand me! I really appreciate what you're saying; I do! It's just... I don't know that they'll be as understand as you're being. ...thanks for that."
-
>"Eh, no need for thanks. I just don't like seeing people get in trouble for things beyond their control."
>Glance at one of our 'blighted' patches. "Believe me, it's a lousy feeling." Shake our head. "And besides, I'll be there to back you up. You just let me do most of the talking. I've gotten used to handling humans in a bad mood. This one, at least, is more reasonable than some of the other humans I've dealt with on a job."
-
>"Eh, no need for thanks. I just don't like seeing people get in trouble for things beyond their control."
>Glance at one of our 'blighted' patches. "Believe me, it's a lousy feeling." Shake our head. "And besides, I'll be there to back you up. You just let me do most of the talking. I've gotten used to handling humans in a bad mood. This one, at least, is more reasonable than some of the other humans I've dealt with on a job."
>Momoka gives you a tentative smile. "Maybe you're right..."
-
>"That's more like it!"
>"Now, I'm guessin' you'd rather take your tunnels back to the Rose? Underground or above ground, I'm easy either way, so, up to you."
-
>"That's more like it!"
>"Now, I'm guessin' you'd rather take your tunnels back to the Rose? Underground or above ground, I'm easy either way, so, up to you."
>Momoka tries to put on a cheerful face as you encourage her, though there are still obvious traces of doubt and reservation beneath it.
>She considers this a moment. "Well... perhaps it would be better if I didn't break into their basement while we're trying to explain how I didn't mean to do that... though I suppose you are working for them at the moment." She pauses in silence briefly, then says "I think I'd rather just follow wherever you think is best."
-
>"We'll take the streets, then. It's a fair point about not coming through that hole again."
>Set off overland for the Rose, but at a reasonable pace. We ain't chasing fairys this time.
>"It occurs to me that, she'll probably ask you to fix that hole, as well. Not that you wouldn't, anyway, I'm just theorizing."
-
>"We'll take the streets, then. It's a fair point about not coming through that hole again."
>Set off overland for the Rose, but at a reasonable pace. We ain't chasing fairys this time.
>"It occurs to me that, she'll probably ask you to fix that hole, as well. Not that you wouldn't, anyway, I'm just theorizing."
>"She nods. "Okay."
>You set off towards the Wild Rose, working your way back over the hill at a leisurely pace and then starting to cross the rest of the fields between you in the southern edge of Braston.
>"Oh, I'm more than willing to do that," she says earnestly. "I'm just worried that... well, that this won't be enough to satisfy them. But I'll take responsibility for my mistakes; it's only right."
-
>"If you ask me, the most I'd ask you to do is close up that hole in the wall, and seal the tunnel a little... I dunno, firmer, this time. Keep adventerous fairys at bay."
>"Of course, that's just me. Hopefully, my client will agree."
-
>"If you ask me, the most I'd ask you to do is close up that hole in the wall, and seal the tunnel a little... I dunno, firmer, this time. Keep adventerous fairys at bay."
>"Of course, that's just me. Hopefully, my client will agree."
>"I'll do my best," she says. "I thought it was sealed well the first time, but I'll be doubly sure this time, I promise."
>Another flicker of doubt plays across her face. "And yes, I hope so..."
-
>"Fairy's CAN be determined sometimes. Doesn't always last very long, but, still."
>"Heh, got me thinking about... Oh, before I forget. Something you mentioned earlier got me thinking. You said you deal in used books?"
-
>"Fairy's CAN be determined sometimes. Doesn't always last very long, but, still."
>"Heh, got me thinking about... Oh, before I forget. Something you mentioned earlier got me thinking. You said you deal in used books?"
>This question seems to break Momoka from her reverie. "Oh! Yes. Yes, I do. Why do you ask?"
-
>"Have you ever run across an old book called 'Flora of the Far Isles?'"
-
>"Have you ever run across an old book called 'Flora of the Far Isles?'"
>She gives you a curious look. "You're the second person to ask me about that this week. I know of it, of course, but I'm afraid I haven't ever had an actual copy pass through my hands."
-
>What was the name of the client looking for that book?
-
For those of you wondering where Draco's been, I've spoken with him, and, to make a long story short, he's been busy with his thesis. And shall return when he can.
-
I figured that was the case.
Damn him and his thesizing! Throw him down some stairs for me.
-
>What was the name of the client looking for that book?
>The posting included a contact address, but no name was given.
-
>"The other guy didn't happen to be a rare book collector, was he?"
-
>"The other guy didn't happen to be a rare book collector, was he?"
>"I'm... not really sure," Momoka replies. "She didn't particularly seem the type, though I suppose she might be to be interested in buying a book like that. Or... maybe a historian of some kind? It would really be quite a bit more expensive than what we usually deal in," she adds with a slight frown.
-
>"I bet."
>"Might've been another Seeker, too. Someone in town's looking for a copy, and there's a decent payoff."
>"Would you know what it looks like?"
-
>"I bet."
>"Might've been another Seeker, too. Someone in town's looking for a copy, and there's a decent payoff."
>"Would you know what it looks like?"
>"Oh. Well, it is quite old, and I don't know there were ever very many copies made," she says. "I'm... not even sure what I would value it at, if a copy came into my hands somehow. Like I said, we don't really deal in rare and expensive books. Just normal everyday ones."
>"Well, uh..." She frowns a little. "I imagine it would have the title on it, wouldn't it? I don't really know exactly what it would look like other than that."
-
>"Well, I know some books have a design on their cover, some of em pretty unique."
>Continue walking.
-
>"Well, I know some books have a design on their cover, some of em pretty unique."
>Continue walking.
>"I don't know if it does or not," she replies. "Sorry. I do hear it has some very detailed botanical illustrations, though..."
>Soon enough, the pair of you reach the houses on the edge of Braston and make your way north to the restaurant where this little expedition started. Momoka frowns at the doorway with obvious trepidation.
-
>"Calm yourself, Momoka. I know you're nervous, but take a couple breaths. Won't be as bad as you might think."
-
>"Calm yourself, Momoka. I know you're nervous, but take a couple breaths. Won't be as bad as you might think."
>"I hope so," she says, taking a steadying breath.
-
>Enter and seek out the lady we spoke with previously.
-
>Enter and seek out the lady we spoke with previously.
>You enter the Wild Rose and almost immediately spot your client at the other side of the establishment, rapping her fingers on the bar counter and looking rather tense. She appears to notice you nearly as soon as you notice her, but her expression quickly shifts from briefly dumbstruck to distinctly displeased. She marches forcefully towards you, meeting you before you can even step very far into the restaurant.
>"What the hell happened to you?!" she hisses in an effortfully subdued voice. Her face is set in a politely masked scowl, for benefit of the nearby clientele, no doubt.
>Momoka cringes and draws back.
-
>Well, that could have gone better.
>How do we look?
>"Beg your pardon?"
-
>Well, that could have gone better.
>How do we look?
>"Beg your pardon?"
>That's for sure...
>Without aid of a mirror, you can't say a great deal about your own appearance at the moment, though you imagine it might be slightly untidy, at worst. Your clothes do show some signs of crawling through the dirt for the last while, but aren't truly dirty looking.
>"You've been gone an hour!" she counters.
-
>"I had to do a little more traveling than I'd anticipated. And negociating with a hungover fairy isn't a one-step process, yknow."
-
>"I had to do a little more traveling than I'd anticipated. And negociating with a hungover fairy isn't a one-step process, yknow."
>"You said you were going to see where it led, and then you up and vanish and leave me with a hole to who-knows-where that could have had a whole gang of bandits lurking in it, for all I know."
>She jerks her head accusingly towards Momoka. "And who's she, anyway?"
>The poor mole lets out a little meep and nearly takes a step back.
-
>"She helped me track the one that took your wines. Some of which I have here, by the way." Raise and lower the case briefly. "I couldn't recover all of it, but I'm fairy sure it won't happen again. There's a bit of a story there."
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>"She helped me track the one that took your wines. Some of which I have here, by the way." Raise and lower the case briefly. "I couldn't recover all of it, but I'm fairy sure it won't happen again. There's a bit of a story there."
>The proprietor glances at the case as you raise it, then regards you silently for a moment, her expression drawn tight with either disapproval or skepticism. She throws another scrutinizing glare in Momoka's direction; the nervous bookseller does her best not to blanch under it completely. Then with a hint of what seems like almost reluctant acquiescence, the owner lets the edge of her expression soften ever so slightly.
>"Bring it back this way," she says, turning and moving back in the direction of her office before you even have a chance to reply.
-
>To Momoka, "All things considered, that coulve have gone worse."
>Still, better she's mad at us than the mole. Poor dear'd probably keel over if this human yelled at her.
>Follow the proprietor. ... Come to think of it, can we tell if she's human or youkai?
-
>To Momoka, "All things considered, that coulve have gone worse."
>Still, better she's mad at us than the mole. Poor dear'd probably keel over if this human yelled at her.
>Follow the proprietor. ... Come to think of it, can we tell if she's human or youkai?
>"It... could have?" Her voice comes out even closer to a squeak than usual.
>For a moment, you were almost wondering if she were about to, simply from the glare.
>She certainly looks human to you. You follow along, Momoka trailing nervously behind you and stealing glances at the establishment as if she were unsure whether or not she was even allowed to be here. You move into the employee's section, down the hallway past the kitchen and into the office.
>The proprietor turns to you as you step inside and curtly gestures at the case. "Let me see it."
-
>Place it down and open the top of it.
>"I'm afraid your thief had already consumed some of the goods. This is as much as we could recover."
-
>Place it down and open the top of it.
>"I'm afraid your thief had already consumed some of the goods. This is as much as we could recover."
>You place the case on her desk and open it. The owner quickly surveys the damage with a steeled gaze.
>"They took the Bavio," she says dully. "Both of them. And the 492 Wynsdale Plum. And the 543 Malbec. And the-" She lets out a short heavy sigh, then addresses you without looking up. "You're sure they've all been... drunk?"
-
>"Based on the condition of the thief, I'd say yes. Some of the bottles weren't entirely finished, but there were a lot of empty ones. Frankly, I'm amazed the little thing was conscious at all."
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>"Based on the condition of the thief, I'd say yes. Some of the bottles weren't entirely finished, but there were a lot of empty ones. Frankly, I'm amazed the little thing was conscious at all."
>"I assume you handed her over to the Watch," she says flatly, eyes still burning holes through the conspicuously empty spaces in the case.
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>Are fairys subject to the same laws that other humanoids are?
EDIT: D'oh. Forgot you asked that earlier, Purvis. My bad. Let me try that again.
>"I doubt there's a lot they could have done. Your thief was a fairy. One who fancied herself a treasure hunter, it seems. She seemed to think she'd found buried treasure when she broke through your wall. Didn't even think what she'd found belonged to anyone." Slight shrug. "You know how fairys are."
>"I might add, when we found her, she was suffering from a massive hangover. Which is why I'm inclined to think she won't trouble you again. That said, however, I do know where she lives, so, if you wanted to track her down and prosecute her, or at least as much as you can with fairys, that's your call."
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>"I doubt there's a lot they could have done. Your thief was a fairy. One who fancied herself a treasure hunter, it seems. She seemed to think she'd found buried treasure when she broke through your wall. Didn't even think what she'd found belonged to anyone." Slight shrug. "You know how fairys are."
>"I might add, when we found her, she was suffering from a massive hangover. Which is why I'm inclined to think she won't trouble you again. That said, however, I do know where she lives, so, if you wanted to track her down and prosecute her, or at least as much as you can with fairys, that's your call."
>The owner regards you blankly as you finish your story. "You're saying a fairy dug that tunnel into my basement?" There is note of challenge in her voice, or perhaps simply unwillingness to accept.
>Momoka nearly jolts at the question, but the woman fortunately does not seem to have noticed.
-
>"Part of it, yes. She was digging at random in a field outside of town, and she punched her way into a tunnel system that was already there. Which is actually someone's home, as I found out, so you're not the only victim here. While she was in there, however, she opened up another tunnel, one that the tunnel's owner had sealed a couple weeks ago. That being the tunnel in your wine cellar."
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>"Part of it, yes. She was digging at random in a field outside of town, and she punched her way into a tunnel system that was already there. Which is actually someone's home, as I found out, so you're not the only victim here. While she was in there, however, she opened up another tunnel, one that the tunnel's owner had sealed a couple weeks ago. That being the tunnel in your wine cellar."
>"Sealed?" She frowns darkly. "So you mean someone else dug a hole into my cellar first?"
-
>Steady, Momoka...
>"The first time was an accident. It happened a couple of weeks ago, actually. Chances are, it never would have been discovered, if that fairy hadn't been burrowing around down there. And, again, it HAD been repaired." Jerk our head back at the mole. "That's one of the reasons my friend here came with me. She knows her way around tunnels and digging, and she's offered to seal the tunnel even better than it was the first time. At no charge, either."
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>Steady, Momoka...
>"The first time was an accident. It happened a couple of weeks ago, actually. Chances are, it never would have been discovered, if that fairy hadn't been burrowing around down there. And, again, it HAD been repaired." Jerk our head back at the mole. "That's one of the reasons my friend here came with me. She knows her way around tunnels and digging, and she's offered to seal the tunnel even better than it was the first time. At no charge, either."
>You don't want to spare too much attention in her direction for fear of raising suspicions, but you're sure she probably wants to curl into a ball and disappear right about now.
>The proprietor regards Momoka with no small measure of dubiousness. "For free?" she asks flatly.
>"Th- that's right," Momoka stutters out.
>The owner's reply is blunt and immediate. "Why?"
>There is a pointed silence. You start to wonder if you'll have to cover for the poor mole, before she manages to force out another response.
>"I... just like to be helpful. That's all."
>The woman's face doesn't look particular satisfied, though you can't be quite sure from her expression whether she's suspicious of Momoka's involvement, or simply expecting to get ripped off by the two of you in some fashion.
-
>Place a hand on Momoka's shoulder, gently.
>"Believe it or not, there are still people like Momoka here in the world. People that ain't out for themselves, ain't always looking for the next big score. I'll grant you, if it was another Seeker standing in her boots, or maybe even me, I'd be a little suspicious too, if I was standing where you are."
>"Now I. I had a job to do. And I did it. You wanted your wines found, and returned if possible, and I've done that, whatever was left of them. I even found the culprit for you, and I'm prepared to tell you where she lives, if you wanted to go after her for compensation. That's your business, not mine. Though if you DO wanna go after her, you might wanna give her a few hours to try and shake that hangover. She's useless to pretty much everyone now."
>"Momoka here, now, she's cut from a different ball of cheese. I needed a little help tracking down your thief, and she gave it to me. Never asked for a dime either, did ya?" Give the poor dear a smile, the look back at the angry human. "Likewise, you have a problem, and that's the hole in your cellar. And Momoka here's willing to patch it, and isn't asking a dime. Because that's how she rolls."
-
>Place a hand on Momoka's shoulder, gently.
>"Believe it or not, there are still people like Momoka here in the world. People that ain't out for themselves, ain't always looking for the next big score. I'll grant you, if it was another Seeker standing in her boots, or maybe even me, I'd be a little suspicious too, if I was standing where you are."
>"Now I. I had a job to do. And I did it. You wanted your wines found, and returned if possible, and I've done that, whatever was left of them. I even found the culprit for you, and I'm prepared to tell you where she lives, if you wanted to go after her for compensation. That's your business, not mine. Though if you DO wanna go after her, you might wanna give her a few hours to try and shake that hangover. She's useless to pretty much everyone now."
>"Momoka here, now, she's cut from a different ball of cheese. I needed a little help tracking down your thief, and she gave it to me. Never asked for a dime either, did ya?" Give the poor dear a smile, the look back at the angry human. "Likewise, you have a problem, and that's the hole in your cellar. And Momoka here's willing to patch it, and isn't asking a dime. Because that's how she rolls."
>You put a gentle hand on the mole youkai's shoulder; you feel her nearly jolt at the contact, though she does an admirable job of not telegraphing it too loudly. Then you lay things out for your client, painting a sunny picture of Momoka while you do it. The proportionate listens to the whole story with a dry and still vaguely disapproving expression, but doesn't interrupt. You turn and give Momoka a smile as you near your close; the poor thing looks dumbstuck and completely unsure of how she should be acting right now. Well, being quiet is probably the best choice, though it would help if she didn't look so obviously nervous.
>After you finish, the owner is silent for a moment, a rather tired look about her. Momoka offers her a hesitant smile.
>"Really, I do just want to help," she says. "It'll be no trouble to fix things for you. Um, well it'll be some trouble, but I- Well, I mean-" Her eyes widen in growing alarm, but the owner interrupts before she can descend into a spiral of self-correction.
>"Who dug in here in the first place?" she asks you bluntly, paying little apparent attention to Momoka. "And why."
-
What do yall think? Straight truth, or should we try to keep Momoka's initial involvement out of it?
-
Straight truth, try to be a mediating force if she gets upset, threaten her with a guild blacklisting if she gives us too much shit, given what a thoroughly unpleasant person she's been to work with. Worse comes to worst, point out there's a lot of mice in this area and it'd be a problem if they all suddenly found out about this place. Or stranglings.
-
>"Like I said, there wasn't really a 'why', per se. It was an accident. And as for who, well, that's the other reason Momoka wants to fix it."
>Bloody human just couldn't leave well enough alone, but she'd better curb that attitude. Pronto.
>"See, she lives down here. Now surfacers. when they- we- wanna clear their heads, we generally go for a stroll, right? 'leastways a lotta folks do. But Momoka, she don't walk on the ground, she digs through it. As a matter of fact, it was her tunnel that that fairy broke into and went sauntering through like she owned the place. And in all the years she'd lived down here, Momoka'd never known anyone else that had built this far down. Until one night, a couple weeks ago, when she accidentally found this place. And since the repairs she made that night got messed up by that fairy, she offered to do them again."
>Does the guild have a blacklist, as far as we know?
-
>"Like I said, there wasn't really a 'why', per se. It was an accident. And as for who, well, that's the other reason Momoka wants to fix it."
>Bloody human just couldn't leave well enough alone, but she'd better curb that attitude. Pronto.
>"See, she lives down here. Now surfacers. when they- we- wanna clear their heads, we generally go for a stroll, right? 'leastways a lotta folks do. But Momoka, she don't walk on the ground, she digs through it. As a matter of fact, it was her tunnel that that fairy broke into and went sauntering through like she owned the place. And in all the years she'd lived down here, Momoka'd never known anyone else that had built this far down. Until one night, a couple weeks ago, when she accidentally found this place. And since the repairs she made that night got messed up by that fairy, she offered to do them again."
>The woman's expression darkens as you implicate Momoka, though she doesn't look particularly surprised by this. For her part, the mole seems almost to shrink as you say this, if such a thing is even possible given her already minute stature.
>Feeling none too kindly disposed towards your client at the moment, you continue to lay out the situation for her. The dour but motionless expression on her face does not instill much confidence of her being understanding, but at least she doesn't cut you off. Momoka fiddles nervously with the edge of her sleeves again; you think she's liable to start fraying the edges of them if she keeps this up. An oppressive silence falls on the room after you finish. The owner's face remains steeled, almost impassive were it not for the dark undercurrent you can see beneath it. Momoka looks as though the the room has already swallowed her. Eventually the owner turns her gaze towards the mole youkai; Momoka nearly flinches from it.
>"So you broke into my storeroom," she says matter-of-factly, though there is a chill to her words.
>"....yes," comes Momoka's reply, barely more than a whisper.
>"And you never thought someone might have a problem with this?" the owner continues.
>"W- well-"
>She doesn't pause long enough for a reply. "You never though to tell anyone that you'd just damaged their property? Or trespassed in their business? Or left a back door open to thieves and who knows who else?"
>Momoka fidgets, frowning deeply. "Well, I- I tried to put things back like they were before I did it."
>"Clearly you didn't do a good enough job," she replies coldly.
>Does the guild have a blacklist, as far as we know?
>There is a form of blacklist, yes, though in practice it doesn't tend to get used very often. Most of the names added to it are either for failing to provide adequate or agreed-upon compensation upon successfully job completion, or for intentionally withholding known risks in their job postings. In many cases, this blacklisting is cautionary, rather than binding; Seekers are still free to do business with whom they choose, but they are at least warned beforehand of a client's past behavior.
-
>Fold arms across our chest, and place ourselves almost completely between Momoka and our client. In case the poor mole hasn't done so already.
>"Alright, mistakes were made, I'll grant you that. And maybe she didn't come to you right away." And we don't blame her one bit. "But Momoka never took anything, and she did her best to repair the hole in the wall. And whatever she did or didn't do, it's not her fault that a fairy broke into her tunnels, nor is it her fault that said fairy undid all the repairs she'd done. And she's still offering to patch the hole and seal the tunnel for free. Again."
>"You've got at least some of your wines back, which is better than finding them all drunk, or not finding them at all. You're getting free repairs to your cellar, which I doubt you'd get from any other crew in town. And you know who stole your wines, if you wanted to try and get some kinda compensation out of her, or at least as much as you can get out of a fairy."
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>Fold arms across our chest, and place ourselves almost completely between Momoka and our client. In case the poor mole hasn't done so already.
>You fold your arms and attempt to interpose yourself between Momoka and your client. The way the three of you are arranged in the small space doesn't give a lot of room to do this properly, but you think the message in your gesture gets across.
>"Alright, mistakes were made, I'll grant you that. And maybe she didn't come to you right away." And we don't blame her one bit. "But Momoka never took anything, and she did her best to repair the hole in the wall. And whatever she did or didn't do, it's not her fault that a fairy broke into her tunnels, nor is it her fault that said fairy undid all the repairs she'd done. And she's still offering to patch the hole and seal the tunnel for free. Again."
>"You've got at least some of your wines back, which is better than finding them all drunk, or not finding them at all. You're getting free repairs to your cellar, which I doubt you'd get from any other crew in town. And you know who stole your wines, if you wanted to try and get some kinda compensation out of her, or at least as much as you can get out of a fairy."
>The owner gives you a sour look. "You know full well I'm not going to get anything worth a damn out of a fairy. I think your friend owes me a little more than just fixing the damage she caused. The only reason that fairy even got in here is because she'd already broken a hole into my restaurant and then tried to cover it up. She's accountable for what happened because of this."
-
>"You're going to hold Momoka accountable for something a fairy did? For having her own home broken into?"
-
>"You're going to hold Momoka accountable for something a fairy did? For having her own home broken into?"
>"No," she replies, "I'm going to hold her accountable for what she did."
>She turns to Momoka. "Could that fairy have gotten in here without you digging a tunnel right into my storeroom?"
>"P- probably not," the mole sputters. "I- I mean she did dig a little bit to get into my house, b- but that wasn't nearly so far, really- not to say that she wouldn't have had to do some digging on this end, too! Uh, I mean... It's just that... well, I-" The poor thing starts wringing her hands.
>The owner turns back to you with a satisfied expression on her face. "I believe that counts as a no."
-
>"So what? Does that mean if someone slips in your window, you blame the windowmaker? Or maybe the guy who laid the street? The faerie did her own digging to get in."
Feel free to soften that.
-
>"So what? Does that mean if someone slips in your window, you blame the windowmaker? Or maybe the guy who laid the street? The faerie did her own digging to get in."
>"I wouldn't blame the windowmaker," she says, "but the person who left the window unlocked. If one of my employees forgot to lock up at night, and someone robbed the place because of it, I'd hold her accountable for it, too."
-
>"And if someone breaks that window? Because that's what happened here. Someone kicked down your neighbors' door, and threw a rock through your window. You gonna blame your neighbor? The guy that made the door?"
-
>"Better than a door, really. You go in that basement every day, and you didn't even notice there was anything wrong with the wall."
-
>"And if someone breaks that window? Because that's what happened here. Someone kicked down your neighbors' door, and threw a rock through your window. You gonna blame your neighbor? The guy that made the door?"
>"Better than a door, really. You go in that basement every day, and you didn't even notice there was anything wrong with the wall."
>You see a twitch in the woman's expression as you point out how she'd evidently overlooked Momoka's incursion up to now. For a brief moment, she seems to lose her stride, but it is only brief. If anything, her expression only sours further.
>"However she patched the damage," she counters, "a weakness was clearly still left which the fairy followed. A weakness that wouldn't have existed if she hadn't dug it in the first place. And frankly, this is really none of your business. You were contracted to investigate the theft and retrieve the stolen property, which you have... partially done. That's it. How I choose to seek compensation for it is my own affair, and I should thank you to keep your nose out of it."
-
Easy answer is to point out Momoka has retained our services, as well.
Past that, pondering.
Edit: I wonder how much of the land the innkeep actually owns?
Edit: Okay, now that dinner is finished being prepared, we have a few weapons. We need to find out how much of the property that the innkeep owns. Given the inn is roadside, I would say not very much. As such, the area isn't the innkeeper's to call the shots with. Nor has the innkeeper done anything to demark the underground for burrowers. As such, we can argue it's the innkeeper's fault for not putting up a fence, if she wants to press it.
Also, I think now is the time to demand our pay, point out that without us she would have never even figured out how the wine went missing, and point out that if we don't get paid in full, right now, with a smile, we will be reporting her behavior to the guild. Meaning that she will not be likely to retain a seeker again, nor is any seeker likely to come back. Nor are their friends, who will be most definitely hearing about this.
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She has? You mean 'help me find the one that damaged my roof'?
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And to act as mediator too. We can't forget that.
-
As in, she agreed to let us help her. Thus we are retained. Thus it is our business. A seeker can be proactive..
-
Why don't we just go with that? Simple and effective. "I'm sorry, but it IS my business", or words to that effect?
-
That works.
-
Indeed. Thoughts on the property stuff that I typed up?
-
Purvis, you devilish bastard.
I like it! This gives us plenty of ammo against this stubborn broad.
-
The only thing I'd caution on is threatening her with guild blacklisting JUST yet. It's definately something to keep in mind, but perhaps not at this juncture. But definately ask for our pay. Best get that business out of the way before she gets even more cross with us.
Apart from that, I'd say you've got a pretty decent case there. If she doesn't own anything beyond that wall, then she's got nothing to hold over Momoka, especially since she already repaired the hole once and offered to do it again free of charge.
-
>"Miss Momoka and I have an agreement, actually. I am assisting her in this matter, so it is my business. Now, may I ask, what are the bounds of your property?"
-
>"Miss Momoka and I have an agreement, actually. I am assisting her in this matter, so it is my business. Now, may I ask, what are the bounds of your property?"
>The proprietor frowns thinly. "What does that have to do with anything?"
-
>"You're making a claim to breech of property, yes? Then knowing where the properly lines lay is very important."
-
>"You're making a claim to breech of property, yes? Then knowing where the properly lines lay is very important."
>She gives you an irritated look. "I'm pretty sure the walls are my own property."
-
>"So, you are claiming that the property line doesn't extend beyond your walls?"
-
>"So, you are claiming that the property line doesn't extend beyond your walls?"
>"Of course it does," she replies, "but what does it matter? She admitted she broke through the wall, which is clearly my property no matter how you try to put it."
-
>"And she repaired it well enough that you didn't even know anything has happened. And was sturdy enough that it held up without any problems since then. until someone actively tried to dig through it. She did this free of charge, and did not bother the running of your establishment or even your peace of mind in the slightest. She is offering to do so, again, in response to a transgression that was not even her own. Again, if someone came off the street and robbed you, would you hold suit against the person who laid the street? The only real claim you have would be if she not fill in the length of tunnel throughout your property. So, where does the property line lay?"
-
>"And she repaired it well enough that you didn't even know anything has happened. And was sturdy enough that it held up without any problems since then. until someone actively tried to dig through it. She did this free of charge, and did not bother the running of your establishment or even your peace of mind in the slightest. She is offering to do so, again, in response to a transgression that was not even her own. Again, if someone came off the street and robbed you, would you hold suit against the person who laid the street? The only real claim you have would be if she not fill in the length of tunnel throughout your property. So, where does the property line lay?"
>The woman is silent for a few moments, though her expression softens little; she seems to be searching for a proper response to this and not finding one as quickly as she would like. Eventually she speaks again, her voice cool and measured.
>"I don't believe someone is cleared of trespassing simply if they're considerate enough to cover their tracks well."
-
>"I would think the free and completely non-obtrusive repairs move than covers for it. given time and labor. It was not just 'covering tracks'. You got proper repair work of quality that you did not notice it was done to begin with. Nor, I should note, did you take any pains to establish that there were subterranean property claims to begin with. How was Miss Momoka to know? She can't magically read dirt and determine that it's claimed."
>"As it stands, she is offering you a more comprehensive service to help prevent this from happening again, in repayment for a crime where she had no personal role. I think it would be wise of you to accept her offer and be grateful. If refused, I do not want to think how many guilders it would cost you to have the tunnel filled by yourself, let alone the time lost due to having workers carrying dirt into your basement."
-
>"I would think the free and completely non-obtrusive repairs move than covers for it. given time and labor. It was not just 'covering tracks'. You got proper repair work of quality that you did not notice it was done to begin with. Nor, I should note, did you take any pains to establish that there were subterranean property claims to begin with. How was Miss Momoka to know? She can't magically read dirt and determine that it's claimed."
>"As it stands, she is offering you a more comprehensive service to help prevent this from happening again, in repayment for a crime where she had no personal role. I think it would be wise of you to accept her offer and be grateful. If refused, I do not want to think how many guilders it would cost you to have the tunnel filled by yourself, let alone the time lost due to having workers carrying dirt into your basement."
>"She's liable for the damage in either case," the woman replies. "So whether she wants to fix it herself or pay someone else to do it is her business."
-
>"She fixed the wall, to the point that you failed to notice it. Someone else broke it again. She is not liable this time, the faerie is. However, she is offering to fix it out of the kindness of her heart, free of charge. Are you saying you do not want this? Would you rather ask for money to pay for the repairs, and hire slower, lesser quality workmen who will be repairing during your business hours? I'm not sure how you expect to remain open while they're carting down hundreds of pounds of dirt. But if that makes you happy, I suppose..."
-
>"She fixed the wall, to the point that you failed to notice it. Someone else broke it again. She is not liable this time, the faerie is. However, she is offering to fix it out of the kindness of her heart, free of charge. Are you saying you do not want this? Would you rather ask for money to pay for the repairs, and hire slower, lesser quality workmen who will be repairing during your business hours? I'm not sure how you expect to remain open while they're carting down hundreds of pounds of dirt. But if that makes you happy, I suppose..."
>She gives you a silent adversarial stare while apparently mulling over the reality you point out, as much as she clearly does not like it. Then she turns to Momoka again.
>"You understand that I'm out hundreds of guilders because of you, right?"
>Momoka frowns nervously. "I- I'm really sorry. Honestly, I am. I wish there was something more I could do...." She looks down at the floor.
-
So, it seems she is trying to change tactics to bullying Momoka. Shall we keep on the aggressive (pointing out that losing money to a faerie is like losing money to a lightning strike)? Or try to bring it to a quick end and likely weaken our position if she demands more?
-
From the sound of things, I'm betting she's a selfish little bitch that, since she can't get anything out of a fairy, she's trying to squeeze Momoka. I don't think she's been listening to you, frankly. You explained, fairly well I think, that Momoka already did everything she could have done, and yet missy's still saying 'you owe me.'
Matter of fact, I'm tempted to actually say words to that effect. Something like "Haven't you been listening? Or are you just trying to exploit this situation as much as you can."
Although your first listed approach of keeping blame on Dandelion is a good approach, too. Don't let her shift the blame off where it belongs.
-
Sort of. We've definitely taken some wind out of her sails, from the reactions we've gotten. Definitely aiming for a mean parting shot.
>"Actually, you're out of hundreds of guilders due to a faerie. Which is rather like saying you're out of hundreds of guilders due an ice storm. Now, if you would like to try to do something about this faerie, I would be happy to show you where she lives. Though I wouldn't be surprised if she tried to bite you. But as it stands, I think Miss Momoka's offer is quite generous. Will you accept it?"
-
>"Actually, you're out of hundreds of guilders due to a faerie. Which is rather like saying you're out of hundreds of guilders due an ice storm. Now, if you would like to try to do something about this faerie, I would be happy to show you where she lives. Though I wouldn't be surprised if she tried to bite you. But as it stands, I think Miss Momoka's offer is quite generous. Will you accept it?"
>She stares stone-faced at you for a few more moments; her eyes betray the resentment lurking beneath her determined visage, though there is less confidence in her gaze than when she started. A small victory, perhaps. It is with great deliberateness that she eventually replies.
>"I want the whole tunnel filled in," she says. "All of it. And a signed statement promising never to dig anywhere near here again."
>"It... it's rather long," Momoka says weakly.
-
>"And what gives you the right to dictate what roads she can and cannot travel on? As well, what say do you have over the property that is not your own. Miss Momoka will repair your wall and fill in the tunnel to your property line. Anything extra will come from the goodness of her heart, so I would recommend asking her nicely."
-
>"And what gives you the right to dictate what roads she can and cannot travel on? As well, what say do you have over the property that is not your own. Miss Momoka will repair your wall and fill in the tunnel to your property line. Anything extra will come from the goodness of her heart, so I would recommend asking her nicely."
>"I'm sure I'm not the only one who'd take issue with her digging through their property," she replies. "Shall I go ask them?"
-
>"Go right ahead. Then we can take it to court, and you can find out it's about as silly as saying she can't breath air near your property. And then we can find out how you expect people to stay off your property when you didn't even mark it down there. Would they uphold such a claim when you didn't put up and fences aboveground? Not bloody likely. And if you'd like to spend the money in court fees and retaining a barrister, and if you'd like to spend weeks and months pursuing it, only to have it shut down in your face, be my guest. Or, you could try to work nicely with Miss Momoka, save a lot of time and money, and give the top quality work we talked about earlier rather than having to shut down your establishment for easily up to a week. But if you want to take the long and expensive way for less profit out of spite, well...have a nice life, I suppose?"
-
>"Go right ahead. Then we can take it to court, and you can find out it's about as silly as saying she can't breath air near your property. And then we can find out how you expect people to stay off your property when you didn't even mark it down there. Would they uphold such a claim when you didn't put up and fences aboveground? Not bloody likely. And if you'd like to spend the money in court fees and retaining a barrister, and if you'd like to spend weeks and months pursuing it, only to have it shut down in your face, be my guest. Or, you could try to work nicely with Miss Momoka, save a lot of time and money, and give the top quality work we talked about earlier rather than having to shut down your establishment for easily up to a week. But if you want to take the long and expensive way for less profit out of spite, well...have a nice life, I suppose?"
>She regards you sourly; you see her lips twitch slightly, as though she were having trouble bringing herself to respond to this.
>"Fine," she says curtly, a sheen of professionalism wrapped around ice. "But I want it in writing."
-
>"What do you do you think about that, Miss Momoka?"
>Glance back toward shopkeeper, "And what are we talking about when we say near?"
-
>"What do you do you think about that, Miss Momoka?"
>Glance back toward shopkeeper, "And what are we talking about when we say near?"
>"It's ok," the youkai replies tentatively, then raises her eyes to the owner and sketches a meek smile. "I don't want you to feel uncomfortable about anyone stealing from you again, after all this... really...."
>She considers this briefly, and then responds with "100 feet." There is a trace of a sigh mingled with her words.
-
>Look to Momoka. "Do you think that is reasonable?"
>Not as though she's going to know if anyone got within ten feet, now that we think on it...
-
>Look to Momoka. "Do you think that is reasonable?"
>Not as though she's going to know if anyone got within ten feet, now that we think on it...
>"I'll be sure to stay away from your property," she replies to the owner. "I promise."
>Almost certainly not, unless she kept her ears permanently stuck to the cellar walls for any faint sounds of digging.
-
>"Then we have an agreement! Momoka, do you have anything to write down that statement on?"
>What sort of payment was promised for this job?
-
>"Then we have an agreement! Momoka, do you have anything to write down that statement on?"
>"Er, um... well..."
>"I'll do it," the proprietor replies, deftly fetching pen and paper from her desk. She begins swiftly drafting the statement in brusk, angular handwriting.
>What sort of payment was promised for this job?
>The job posting was non-specific and you neglected to work out the financial details before you undertook the job.
-
>Oh goodie, we get to rub it in her face how much shit we saved her~
>Be sure to have a look at that document before Momoka signs it.
-
>Oh goodie, we get to rub it in her face how much shit we saved her~
>Be sure to have a look at that document before Momoka signs it.
>You're certainly in no mood to be either charitable or modest to her at the moment.
>The woman finishes writing and bruskly flips the document around on the table towards Momoka. The mole leans in almost humorously close to it and adjusts her glasses with one hand while her head moves along the text. You lean over and take a look at it yourself. Fortunately, it appears to be nothing more than a few simple and very specific statements regarding Momoka pledging to repair the damage, fill in the part of the tunnel that falls within the Wild Rose's property, and not dig within 100 feet of it in future. You don't notice any ambiguous statements, trick clauses, or loopholes.
-
>"That looks good to me."
-
>"That looks good to me."
>You catch a thinly irritated glance the woman discretely throws you as you say this, but she does not otherwise respond. Momoka picks up the pen and signs her name to the document. The woman flips it back around, gives it an appraising look, then deposits it inside a desk drawer.
>"I trust you'll start work soon?" she says to the mole.
>"Um, I can... take a look at it now, if you'd like," Momoka replies.
-
>"That might be a good idea. I have a bit of business to discuss, yet."
-
>"That might be a good idea. I have a bit of business to discuss, yet."
>The owner gives you a look. "Your payment, I assume?"
-
>Nod.
-
>Nod.
>"Forty guilders," she replies plainly.
-
Do we argue her up?
I think we have a case, given we found a tunnel she did, kept her from falsely accusing Momoka, kept her from making a public spectacle of herself, got back the wine, got her repairs for free, and at least temporarily scared the faerie from doing it again.
>How much is forty guilders? Does it seem appropriate for this kind of job?
-
>How much is forty guilders? Does it seem appropriate for this kind of job?
>It isn't a terrible sum for the length of time the job took you, but on the other hand, the goods in question were clearly worth a very substantial amount. For contrast, you received 120 for the Melon Bowl job, and Ellen paid you 50 guilders for finding a cat, and even tossed in a minor magical bauble, though she was a little odd, and this lady is clearly all business.
-
I think we can get 60-70 out of her.
-
This is where I think I'd disagree. I think we've basically convinced her to cut her losses, as far as she's concerned. I doubt she'd be receptive to haggling under the best of circumstances, let alone after the rather animated discussion we just had. She's none too kindly disposed towards either of us. About the only leverage I think we have that she won't be able to argue her way around is free repairs, and even then, we'd basically be charging her for her 'free' work. That wouldn't go over too well.
Besides, we've already got something extra out of this; we've made a new friend. And kept her out of trouble that she doesn't deserve. That's good enough for me.
Plus, if we start pressing her for more money, it'll look like we really DID have an angle for ourselves after all, and that might be an issue if we ever find work with her friends. I doubt she'll have much good to say about us.
Long story short, I say we take the 40, be glad that we got Momoka off the hook, and call it a day.
-
I see where you're coming from and would agree, but there's a professional aspect to it as well. Or rather, we can't let it seem like Seekers can be taken advantage of after all the garbage she put us through. She's trying to shortchange us, and it would be irresponsible to let her do it without at least mentioning blacklisting and the like. Otherwise other clients can try the same, and claim we let this person get away with it.
Edit: Alternately, we could spin it as a pity discount and get in a few choice burns on the way out the door~
Edit edit: Another possible version: "Okay, I won't argue. I'll take 40. I'll just be sure to mention to my seeker friends you ripped me off. And I'm sure they'll mention to their friends about this tavern where the owner rips people off, and so on..."
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Alternately, we could spin it as a pity discount and get in a few choice burns on the way out the door~
Now, that, I can get behind a lot.
And I still think we oughta warn the guildies about this woman. Bad attitude, stingy, tries to exploit folks when she can... We warn folks to get payment in writing before dealing with her in the future.
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>"Normally, I would argue that. But, frankly, I'm tired of saving you from yourself. So I'm going to take 40 guilders, and I'm going to leave. And I'm going to go back to the seeker's guild, and make a mention that you've been thoroughly unpleasant to work with and, despite going the extra mile to make sure things end as well as they can, have ripped me off. And seekers, being people who have no desire to stick their neck out for skinflints, are going to take note of this. And probably mention it to their friends. And given we tend to travel all over town, we have a lot of friends all over the place. So alright, 40 guilders."
-
>"Normally, I would argue that. But, frankly, I'm tired of saving you from yourself. So I'm going to take 40 guilders, and I'm going to leave. And I'm going to go back to the seeker's guild, and make a mention that you've been thoroughly unpleasant to work with and, despite going the extra mile to make sure things end as well as they can, have ripped me off. And seekers, being people who have no desire to stick their neck out for skinflints, are going to take note of this. And probably mention it to their friends. And given we tend to travel all over town, we have a lot of friends all over the place. So alright, 40 guilders."
>Your client's expression grows steadily darker as allow yourself the satisfaction of detailing the consequences of her attitude today. By the end, she takes little effort to disguise her upset. Momoka actually shrinks off to the side a little.
>"Don't think you're the only one who'll be mentioning this incident to the guild," she says. "And in case I have to remind you, only some of the goods were returned to me. You should consider yourself fortunate to be paid this much, given the circumstances."
-
>We'll be fortunate if we don't see you again for the next few years.
>Draw in a breath, then pause. She doesn't like us, we don't like her, so there's not a lot of point in continuing this tirade. We have better ways to waste our time, and better people to waste our breath on. Besides, that archaeologist might have left word by now, this did take a bit longer than anticipated.
>"Then let's take care of the paperwork, so we can both be out of each others hair, and Momoka can get to work."
>Produce the paperwork.
-
>We'll be fortunate if we don't see you again for the next few years.
>Draw in a breath, then pause. She doesn't like us, we don't like her, so there's not a lot of point in continuing this tirade. We have better ways to waste our time, and better people to waste our breath on. Besides, that archaeologist might have left word by now, this did take a bit longer than anticipated.
>"Then let's take care of the paperwork, so we can both be out of each others hair, and Momoka can get to work."
>Produce the paperwork.
>Not yet.
Sour, a suggestion:
"If you'd like to go cut open that faerie or follow her around with a bucket, be my guest. And I hope you do go to them so I can get a pat on the head for having to deal with a miserly bullying monster like you. That'll just back up everything I'll be saying. And only some of the goods? You're lucky you got any of them back at all. You're lucky I cared enough to keep you from making as ass of yourself in public court trying to file suit against Momoka. You're lucky I don't report you to the guard for trying to intimidate and extort her. You're lucky I found that tunnel at all, because you were too slow to find the thing."
"The sad part is? If you think about this even a little bit, you could make all that money back and more with this situation. But you're so busy trying to be as thoroughly unpleasant as you can that you can't even see it."
I have an idea to dangle in front of her.
-
I still think we should finalize our own payment first, just to make sure we get something out of her. Don't get me wrong, I'm quite pleased we got Momoka settled with her, but I'd like to have the same security for ourselves as well.
That said, however, I have no qualms with idea dangling. It's obvious she likes to make money, so if you can get her to listen, she may just go for it. But I myself wouldn't browbeat her QUITE that much, or she might just stop listening to us at all, and then you're not gonna get anywhere.
-
Point. We'll save the browbeating for now.
>"If you'd like to go cut open that faerie or follow her around with a bucket, be my guest. But, you know, if you think about this a little bit, you could make all that money back and more with this situation."
-
>"If you'd like to go cut open that faerie or follow her around with a bucket, be my guest. But, you know, if you think about this a little bit, you could make all that money back and more with this situation."
>Her expression takes on a note of incredulity. "And how exactly is that?"
-
>"Any particular reason why I should tell you after the way you've acted like a monster this whole time?"
-
>This might be a little too browbeaty as well, so let's try this instead.
>"Well, so far, you've given me little reason to WANT to help you, beyond our agreed business."
-
>Yeah let's do that.
-
>"Well, so far, you've given me little reason to WANT to help you, beyond our agreed business."
>"Then what was the point of saying anything at all?" she asks.
-
That's a good question, Purvis. Why did we say anything?
-
>"Perhaps if you offered an apology to Miss Momoka for earlier?"
-
>"Perhaps if you offered an apology to Miss Momoka for earlier?"
Sourfang is ashamed he didn't think of that himself.
-
>"Perhaps if you offered an apology to Miss Momoka for earlier?"
>"I don't see that I have anything to apologize for," she replies.
-
What do you think, Sour?
-
Let's try this, and do feel free to fiddle with it if you think it won't fly.
>"A simple apology in enchange for an idea that might get you in the black out of all this, and you're gonna balk?"
-
>"A simple apology in enchange for an idea that might get you in the black out of all this, and you're gonna balk?"
>"I don't need your advice on how to run my affairs," she says. "Either say your piece or don't."
-
So, what kind of piece do we give her?
-
Hey, it's your idea. Even I don't know what you were gonna advise her on.
That said, however, I myself am not in a hurry to do her any favors. She hasn't exactly ingraciated herself to us, and I wouldn't mind leaving her out a few bucks.
-
I think we give her both pieces. We straight up tell her, then tell her off. She did say to say our piece.
-
That she did. She's literally askin' for it. Just don't lay into her TOO harsh, bro. ;)
-
>"It's actually pretty simple. You can't sell them as unopened and premium anymore, so don't think of them like that anymore. Think of them like all the other stuff you sell. Now, obviously they're higher quality, so you already have a hook in offering higher quality drinks to people. But you do that anyways, so what you have to do is make it more appealing. Such as "Buy two normal drinks, get a fine drink at half price." Appeal to people who would be interested, but are normally put off by the price by making it cheaper via encouraging to get things they would normal already get, you see? It's actually a pretty good opportunity to see if you could becoming a place known for that. Not to mention that once people get a taste for finer stuff, they're more likely to get it normally despite the usual price. You see?"
-
>"It's actually pretty simple. You can't sell them as unopened and premium anymore, so don't think of them like that anymore. Think of them like all the other stuff you sell. Now, obviously they're higher quality, so you already have a hook in offering higher quality drinks to people. But you do that anyways, so what you have to do is make it more appealing. Such as "Buy two normal drinks, get a fine drink at half price." Appeal to people who would be interested, but are normally put off by the price by making it cheaper via encouraging to get things they would normal already get, you see? It's actually a pretty good opportunity to see if you could becoming a place known for that. Not to mention that once people get a taste for finer stuff, they're more likely to get it normally despite the usual price. You see?"
>"Is that it?" she asks impassively.
-
Edit: HOLD IT!
>Hold our hand out for payment.
-
>Hold our hand out for payment.
>You hold your hand out for payment. The woman is still for a moment, and then without further expressiveness unlocks a drawer in her desk and retrieves a small strongbox from which she counts out your fee. She hands it to you with little comment.
>"Your pay," she says flatly.
-
>"Thank you, now I can finish."
>"You're also a horrible, bullying monster to work with who directly tried to intimidate and scam Miss Momoka and lied to our faces around it. The fact you've managed to run a business at all with such a sour outlook is amazing, so I can only assume you inherited it and are presently driving it into the ground like a stake with a sledgehammer."
>Stand up. "Your prices must be excellent, because no one is coming here for your sunny personality or a friendly atmosphere. I cannot think of a more deserving person to be robbed."
>Start to leave. "Please take some of the money I've managed to save you from this whole debacle and use it to hire yourself a whore. You need it desperately."
>Exit office!
-
>Stand up. "Your prices must be excellent, because no one is coming here for your sunny personality or a friendly atmosphere. I cannot think of a more deserving person to be robbed."
>Start to leave. "Please take some of the money I've managed to save you from this whole debacle and use it to hire yourself a whore. You need it desperately."
>Exit office!
As much as I love the sentiment (especially the last part, that's EXCELLENT.) there's something else I wanna say before all this is said and done. I'd hate to end an otherwise enjoyable sidequest on an especially sour note.
>Instead of that, say this.
>"But even with all that, at the end of the day, I'm still not upset I took this job. Doing business with you obviously wasn't a pleasure for either one of us, but I did get to meet Momoka here. And that was a pleasant surprise."
>Turn to Momoka, and extend our hand. "I'm sorry things got as... ugly, as they did. Didn't work out quite as I'd hoped. But I am glad that I met you, and just as pleased that we settled things here amicably on your behalf. And if you ever have any more trouble, with fairys or otherwise, I'd be perfectly willing to help you again."
-
You never let me have any fun ;_;
But okay.
-
>"Thank you, now I can finish."
>"You're also a horrible, bullying monster to work with who directly tried to intimidate and scam Miss Momoka and lied to our faces around it. The fact you've managed to run a business at all with such a sour outlook is amazing, so I can only assume you inherited and are presently driving it into the ground like a stake with a sledgehammer."
>Your fortunately former client's expression predictably darkens as you deliver your parting remarks, though she mostly masks it beneath a veneer of professional detachment.
>"But even with all that, at the end of the day, I'm still not upset I took this job. Doing business with you obviously wasn't a pleasure for either one of us, but I did get to meet Momoka here. And that was a pleasant surprise."
>Turn to Momoka, and extend our hand. "I'm sorry things got as... ugly, as they did. Didn't work out quite as I'd hoped. But I am glad that I met you, and just as pleased that we settled things here amicably on your behalf. And if you ever have any more trouble, with fairys or otherwise, I'd be perfectly willing to help you again."
>Then you turn to Momoka and extend both your hand and an offer of help in the future. The mole youkai looks a little caught off-guard by this, but gives you a tentative smile in return.
>"Um, thank you," she says, looking a little sheepish. With a trace of hesitation, she extends a hand towards yours; frankly, she looks just a little unsure of how she's supposed to react to this. You hear the owner let out a tight, quiet breath, almost a sigh.
-
>Nice surprises we've had so far almost balance out the bad surprise we got at the end of our last adventure...
>Shake the moles hand. "You take care, now." Keep her in mind in case we get anymore underground jobs here in and around town.
>Depart.
And because you got me curious, P,
>What's the going rate for a whore nowadays, anyway?
-
>Nice surprises we've had so far almost balance out the bad surprise we got at the end of our last adventure...
>Shake the moles hand. "You take care, now." Keep her in mind in case we get anymore underground jobs here in and around town.
>Depart.
>You think it's going to take a hell of a lot of nice surprises to balance that one out. Maybe starting with a cure...
>You shake Momoka's hand; she has a surprisingly firm grip once actual contact is made.
>"I- I'll try," she says, looking a little more comfortable now. "It was nice to meet you, too."
>Having said your farewells, you turn and exit the office.
>"Good luck finding that book!" Momoka calls out to you as you leave.
>The sounds of the mole being ushered towards the cellar fade away behind you as you quickly make your way out of the Wild Rose and back onto the streets. You believe it's somewhere around 2 in the afternoon, and the market is as busy as usual.
>What's the going rate for a whore nowadays, anyway?
>As you've never had occasion to price such services, you'd find it difficult to say.
-
>Note to learn that for after we cure ourselves.
>Current net worth.
-
>Note to learn that for after we cure ourselves.
>Current net worth.
>You make a mental note.
>Your net worth is perhaps not so easily tallied with some of the items in your possession, but you currently have 365 guilders.
-
>Approximately how long have we spent on this mission?
-
>Approximately how long have we spent on this mission?
>It's probably in the area of two hours or so since you left the guildhall, which is actually pretty good time for the pay, unpleasant client notwithstanding.
-
>Stretch.
>Mental chuckle at the poor hungover Dandelion. Sure hope she learned her lesson. We'd be quite cross if she puts another hole in Momoka's roof.
>Back to the guildhall, check our messages.
-
>Stretch.
>Mental chuckle at the poor hungover Dandelion. Sure hope she learned her lesson. We'd be quite cross if she puts another hole in Momoka's roof.
>Back to the guildhall, check our messages.
>You stretch and have a little chuckle at Dandelion's plight, then you make your way back to the guildhall and check in with Sashiko again.
>"Got something for you this time," she says, pulling an envelope out of one of the mail trays and handing it to you. "Young guy came by about a half hour ago, looking for you; said he was with the archeologists. Left this here when I told him you weren't around."
-
>Now we're in business.
>"Just what I was hoping to hear."
>Open and read.
-
>Now we're in business.
>"Just what I was hoping to hear."
>Open and read.
>You open the envelope and extract a short letter, written on good quality stationary. The penmanship is top-notch, each character flowing yet precise. It reads:
>Dear Nazrin,
>Sasha has informed me of the artifact you have uncovered and your desire to learn more about it and have its inscription translated. I've seen the copies she made of the rubbings, and they do seem broadly consistent with Freelands Archaic although some characters are unattested in previous inscriptions. Assuming it is authentic, this is an extremely significant find. Very few artifacts of the Freelands Archaic culture survive, and virtually none approach the condition I am told yours is in. Its archeological significance cannot be understated, particularly if it may imply the existence of a site similarly preserved.
>Unfortunately, while I am very interested in examining this artifact in person and would be more than happy to discuss it with you, I am afraid this will not be possible right now. Matters at the dig have been very busy lately, and require my continued presence here. The dig itself is closed the general public for reasons I hope you can appreciate; the archeological value of this site is much too great to run any risk of it being pilfered by people hoping for some quick cash. I am certainly not suggesting you are such a person, but it is a matter of policy to keep our specific location undisclosed to people outside of my own team. I hope you can understand.
>In lieu of a face-to-face meeting, I have sent one of our cameras in with Hideki Sato, the graduate student currently posted in Braston (You should be able to find him at the same place you found Sasha yesterday). I hope you will permit him to photograph the sword in detail for our records, and I promise I will devote time to examining the photos once he returns with the next supply shipment in a week's time.
>I cannot promise that an accurate translation of it will be possible, given how fragmentary our understanding of Freelands Archaic still is, but I will give it the best that we're currently capable of. Understand that this will take some time, however. That being said, I still hope to be able to meet with you in future, once things here are better organized, and ask that you continue to be in contact with us on this matter.
>Professor Keine Kamishirasawa
>Department of Archeology
>Grand Academy of Val Razua
-
Fuck.
Okay, Sour needs to rethink his plans.
EDIT: So, to sum up, my plan of 'Meeting Keine and getting a direction on curing ourselves' just went straight down the shitter. Anybody got anything else?
-
I got nothing.
What about you Purvmeister?
-
Well, there's a couple options we have.
-One is to go back and oversee the events in the farming town whose name I have forgotten, and get those ruins cleared up for investigation. This has the advantage of not being at all direct, but helping to clean up our own mess. ANd possibly beating the source with a rock until she tells us everything we need to know.
-Another is to meet cameraman and threaten to slit his throat if he doesn't tell us how to get to that dig site and deal with Keine about this directly. Not as though we have much to lose. This has the advantage of getting us to a profession quickly, but also not but real promise of a cure.
-A third is to say to hell with all of it and go check out that Grand Academy. This has the advantage of being a wildcard.
-
Ah yeah! That's right!
Since this spider-lady who hexed us in the first place is implied to be Yamame(Just as I suspected), maybe she can fix the blight!
Because canonically, she's implied to be a healer as often as she is a hurter, being said to be the Underground's Incident-Solver.
-
Except she won't. If you'll recall, she hates us. She wants us dead. Getting beaten up by Marisa isn't likely to improve her disposition, and there's not enough time that's passed to let Ichirin work her magic on her. Whether the spider youkai is Yamame or not, she won't help us. I'd lay good odds on her trying to finish the job if she sees us again, and would only undermine what little progress Ichirin may have made. To say nothing of taking more time off our death clock.
However, we should see the cameraman. If nothing else, as a professional courtesy. If he can get us in to see Keine, that'd be excellent. If he can't, then that leaves us with option three. The Grand Academy of Val Razua. Keine may not be there atm, but surely she can't be the only historical expert in the city, though she may be the best. And even if that avenue isn't an option, there's still the faith/magic side we can attack from.
However, even this option is only viable, in my opinion, if we can find a fast ship. If normal flight takes a week, then we're not much better off that way. I think, after we see the cameraman, if that doesn't pan out, then we check out the docks, and see if we can find this worlds' equivilent of Han Solo.
>Twitch.
>Mutter, "Fine, then."
>Glance at Sashiko. "Ever have one of those days where you think some higher power's got it in for ya?"
-
>Twitch.
>Mutter, "Fine, then."
>Glance at Sashiko. "Ever have one of those days where you think some higher power's got it in for ya?"
>She gives you a wry little grin. "All the time. You know how it is on this side of the desk some days."
-
I think we can make Yamame talk. It won't be a pleasant process and there would be a whole lot of spider corpses to dispose of afterward, but we can most definitely make her talk.
>How does one appropriately blacklist a a shitty client?
-
>How does one appropriately blacklist a a shitty client?
>You'd need to register an official complaint and explain the situation and your reason for requesting a blacklisting, then it would be reviewed (probably by Rinnosuke himself) and possibly investigated further if he felt this was warranted. The paperwork would be going through Sashiko at the moment, and you know that the appropriate forms are filed on the other side of this counter here.
-
Bitch though she may have been, I'm not certain an outright blacklist is warranted, not from our first experience. That said, however, a word of caution to the guild is definately warranted.
>Is there a 'Seeker take care when working for this person' list?
-
>Is there a 'Seeker take care when working for this person' list?
>They're essentially a very similar thing, just with differing degrees of emphasis, though something subjective that doesn't involve outright deception, putting Seekers at unnecessary risk, or failing to provide adequate payment is unlikely to be listed in any official capacity, though word does get around...
-
>"I'd almost take it over this last job."
>Put away the letter.
>"Just wrapped up a job for the owner of the Wild Rose, and she's gotta be one of the most unpleasant women to work for in town. Never mind about her attitude, which is one shade up from an ornery bear, or the fact that she may have shortchanged me a bit, she tried to exploit the youkai I met during the job, tried to clean her out AND get free labor out of the woman, and she's about as harmless as a newborn kitten. Shed've run roughshod over Momoka, if I hadn't been there to stand up for her."
-
>"I'd almost take it over this last job."
>Put away the letter.
>"Just wrapped up a job for the owner of the Wild Rose, and she's gotta be one of the most unpleasant women to work for in town. Never mind about her attitude, which is one shade up from an ornery bear, or the fact that she may have shortchanged me a bit, she tried to exploit the youkai I met during the job, tried to clean her out AND get free labor out of the woman, and she's about as harmless as a newborn kitten. Shed've run roughshod over Momoka, if I hadn't been there to stand up for her."
>You pocket the letter and explain a little of your experience with your last client.
>"Sounds fun," Sashiko says dryly.
-
>"Yeah, she was a real class act. Gave me shit while I was investigating, gave me shit when I recovered the goods that still existed, like it was somehow my fault they got used up, then this poor little mole youkai, she straight up tried to bully due to being an unwitting accomplice, and this is after she offered to fix the damage for free. You'll probably get an eyeful of her soon, because she's threatened to come here and complain. Probably because toward the end I got sick of her treating Momoka, that's the mole Youkai, like trash, and gave her a piece of my mind."
-
>"I for one am in no hurry at all to take another job from that one. And if I do, or anyone else does, make damn sure to get payment terms in writing up front."
-
>"Yeah, she was a real class act. Gave me shit while I was investigating, gave me shit when I recovered the goods that still existed, like it was somehow my fault they got used up, then this poor little mole youkai, she straight up tried to bully due to being an unwitting accomplice, and this is after she offered to fix the damage for free. You'll probably get an eyeful of her soon, because she's threatened to come here and complain. Probably because toward the end I got sick of her treating Momoka, that's the mole Youkai, like trash, and gave her a piece of my mind."
>Sashiko gives a wry chuckle and shakes her head. "Well, if she wants to lodge a complaint, I've got lots of unnecessarily long forms for her to fill out. Twice. I mean, how does anyone keep things from getting lost in this mess, anyhow?" She gestures idly towards a very neatly organized collection of trays and folders.
>"I for one am in no hurry at all to take another job from that one. And if I do, or anyone else does, make damn sure to get payment terms in writing up front."
>"She change her mind partway through, or you just think she was being stingy?"
-
>Glance at the stack of papers, then give Sashiko a grin and a wink. We still like the cut of her jib.
>"I'd lay odds on both. It wasn't terrible money for the time invested, and it wasn't terribly hard, but she carried herself like a woman that shaved a guilder off for every dollar spent, two if she didn't like you. And very much concerned with her own bottom line."
-
>"And spiteful enough to spend five more on top of it to have her way. Which I had to talk her out of doing for both her and Momoka's sake."
-
>Glance at the stack of papers, then give Sashiko a grin and a wink. We still like the cut of her jib.
>"I'd lay odds on both. It wasn't terrible money for the time invested, and it wasn't terribly hard, but she carried herself like a woman that shaved a guilder off for every dollar spent, two if she didn't like you. And very much concerned with her own bottom line."
>"And spiteful enough to spend five more on top of it to have her way. Which I had to talk her out of doing for both her and Momoka's sake."
>You give Sashiko a grin and a wink. She responds with a very good impression of having no idea what you're winking about.
>"Eh, doesn't surprise me much," she says. "I've never been to the Wild Rose, but I hear it's a pretty high-end joint. Half the people who run those kinda places got an attitude problem, I swear."
-
>"No arguements on that front. 's the ones that can afford to pay better that never do."
>And then you have people like Ichirin...
>"Well, suppose it wasn't all bad." Grin. "Ever seen a fairy with a hangover?"
-
>"No arguements on that front. 's the ones that can afford to pay better that never do."
>And then you have people like Ichirin...
>"Well, suppose it wasn't all bad." Grin. "Ever seen a fairy with a hangover?"
>"Tell me about it," she says.
>If there were ever someone on the other end of the scale...
>"Seen one trying to fake it," she replies. "Does that count?"
-
> "Probobly funner..she was in a bad way. Still silly though."
-
> "Probobly funner..she was in a bad way. Still silly though."
>"Oh, this one was hamming it up, believe me," Sashiko says. "You'd think she were dying if that were, y'know, possible. Points for effort, though."
-
>"This one certainly made it sound that way. Certainly went into theatrics when I raised my voice just a bit. Of course, there were also a number of partially drained wine bottles, so it's not like she just poured them out."
-
>"This one certainly made it sound that way. Certainly went into theatrics when I raised my voice just a bit. Of course, there were also a number of partially drained wine bottles, so it's not like she just poured them out."
>She gives a little chuckle. "Well, you know fairies. Moderation isn't exactly in their vocabulary."
-
>"Means they're never dull. One way or the other. Managed to convince her friend that booze is the bearer of a terrible curse in the doin', too."
-
>Grin a bit.
>"Kinda mean, but damn if it wasn't fun doing it."
-
>"Means they're never dull. One way or the other. Managed to convince her friend that booze is the bearer of a terrible curse in the doin', too."
>Grin a bit.
>"Kinda mean, but damn if it wasn't fun doing it."
>Sashiko laughs. "Hey, I'd buy that some days."
-
>"So would I, at least after coming to."
>"Well, much as I'd love to chew the fat, I gotta see a man about a sword."
-
>"So would I, at least after coming to."
>"Well, much as I'd love to chew the fat, I gotta see a man about a sword."
>"Sure." Sashiko gives you a nod and an idle wave of her hand. "See ya."
-
>Quietly, "Wish me luck..."
>Go see that man about a sword.
-
>Quietly, "Wish me luck..."
>Go see that man about a sword.
>You exit the guildhall and make your way across town to the Brass Lantern. Knocking at the room where you met the archeology student last night, you are answered by a rather wispy-looking young man with light brown hair.
>"Oh, ah, hello," he says. You catch him glance at Kumokirimaru for a moment. "You're... Nazrin, right?"
-
>"That's right. You said you wanted some things?"
-
>"That's right. You said you wanted some things?"
>"Uh, yes," he says, managing somehow to seem a little off-guard despite presumably expecting you. He points pensively at Kumokirimaru. "Is that the sword? I mean, the one with the inscription on it?"
-
>"That's it, shall I come in?"
-
>"That's it, shall I come in?"
>"Oh, sure, of course," he says, opening the door further and gesturing inside. "Come in."
-
>Head inside.
>"So, what do you want me to do?"
-
>Head inside.
>"So, what do you want me to do?"
>You step into the room, and the man you assume to be Hideki closes the door behind you, then moves off to the other end of the room and rummages through a large leather pack.
>"We just want to take some photos of the sword," he says, retrieving a bulky but expensive-looking camera from the pack and moving back towards you. Then he frowns slightly and glances around the room. "Uh..."
>His gaze lingers on a small cluttered desk in the corner of the room and he starts to walk towards it. "Here, just let me clean this off."
>Hideki puts the camera down on the floor besides the desk, then quickly shifts the assorted papers, books, and other minutia onto other nearby surfaces. Then he pauses a moment, scrutinizing the wood grain. "Actually..."
>He ducks down and digs into another pack, pulling out a small white cloth which he spreads over part of the desk, spending a few more moments smoothing out some of the creases in it.
>He looks at you hopefully. "If you could just lay the sword down here?"
-
>Did we tell these guys the details about our disease, insomuch as we're dying and contact with the weapon is what's stopping it?
-
>Did we tell these guys the details about our disease, insomuch as we're dying and contact with the weapon is what's stopping it?
>You made no mention whatsoever of your condition when you spoke with Sasha, nor did your reluctance to release your grip on the weapon even come up; she'd seemed content enough to examine it while you held it, or at least was enthralled enough by simply being allowed to look at it that she elected not to ask if she could hold it herself. That being said, you haven't had your hands directly on it for most of the afternoon and don't feel obviously the worse for wear for it.
-
>"Alright. But before we get too involved, I can't really come out of contact with it."
-
>"Alright. But before we get too involved, I can't really come out of contact with it."
>He gives a little nervous laugh. "I'm not going to take it from you or anything, don't worry. It's just they'll show up better against a plain surface. Uh, the photos, I mean."
-
>"That's not what I mean. You see, I didn't really have time to get into it yesterday, but this sword is why I'm alive right now. It's keeping a disease at bay that would otherwise kill me within a couple hours. So, I can't let it go."
-
>"That's not what I mean. You see, I didn't really have time to get into it yesterday, but this sword is why I'm alive right now. It's keeping a disease at bay that would otherwise kill me within a couple hours. So, I can't let it go."
>He gives you a dumbstruck look, like he isn't sure he even heard you properly. "What?" He glances back at the sword again.
-
>Show him the blackened veins on our arms.
>"See?"
-
>Show him the blackened veins on our arms.
>"See?"
>You pull back your sleeve and show him the blighted patch on your right arm. You see a flash of shock in his eyes, and he actually shirks away from you a little; the manner suggests it was almost unconscious.
>"It is, um... contagious?" he asks quietly.
-
>Shake head. "No, you'll be fine. But if I let this sword get away from me, it won't be. It's kind of why I was chasing you guys about the sword, I was hoping you could tell me something about the disease, too. Apparently it's an old, bad one. The Harvest Goddess, Minoriko, told me a bit about how it used to be a big problem."
-
>Shake head. "No, you'll be fine. But if I let this sword get away from me, it won't be. It's kind of why I was chasing you guys about the sword, I was hoping you could tell me something about the disease, too. Apparently it's an old, bad one. The Harvest Goddess, Minoriko, told me a bit about how it used to be a big problem."
>He tries to look you in the face, though you can see his eyes being tugged back to the mark on your arm.
>"No, um, that's... way out of my area," he says pensively.
-
>"Never heard of anything like this in the past, huh?"
-
>"Never heard of anything like this in the past, huh?"
>"I'm just an archaeology student..." he says.
-
>"That's one of the reasons I was hoping to see your boss, professor Kamishirasawa. Kinda wish I'dve mentioned this to Sasha when she was in, might've convinced Keine to see me herself. I need to know everything I can about this sword, and the ones that made it, so I can find a cure for myself."
-
>"That's one of the reasons I was hoping to see your boss, professor Kamishirasawa. Kinda wish I'dve mentioned this to Sasha when she was in, might've convinced Keine to see me herself. I need to know everything I can about this sword, and the ones that made it, so I can find a cure for myself."
>"That's, uh..." He shifts uncomfortably, his gaze wavering. "Well, we were hoping the sword might help tell us something. I, uh... I don't think we can tell you anything about it. Uh, well other than the inscription being Freelands Archaic, but we don't even know if they were a single culture or not. If we can translate it, maybe..."
-
>Poor bastard got a bit more than he expected, it seems.
>"I assume you folks have found inscriptions like this before, though, right? About how long does it usually take to translate archaic into modern?"
-
>Poor bastard got a bit more than he expected, it seems.
>"I assume you folks have found inscriptions like this before, though, right? About how long does it usually take to translate archaic into modern?"
>He does look significantly unsettled, though you suppose it isn't too surprising given that you just announced yourself as the carrier of a highly lethal disease, when he'd only been expecting the carrier of a highly interesting artifact.
>"Well, most have been more fragmentary," he say, "but yes. And, well... it varies. We still don't know all that much about the language. I think I heard the professor saying she didn't recognize some parts of the inscription, but I don't really know. I... can't actually read more than a couple words in the language," he adds sheepishly. "It's not really my primary field."
-
>"We all have our specialties. But I don't suppose she mentioned any parts of it that WERE recognizable? I am a Seeker, finding things is what I do, but knowing which way to go at first is a bit of a help."
-
>"We all have our specialties. But I don't suppose she mentioned any parts of it that WERE recognizable? I am a Seeker, finding things is what I do, but knowing which way to go at first is a bit of a help."
>He shakes his head. "I never really talked with her about it. She's been pretty busy."
-
So, do we insist on being taken to see Keine? Or follow another path?
Also: Comedy Option 4: Darkening of the veins suggests the disease has some kind of relation to blood. So we find us a fuckin' vampiyah (http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=cvkBvzpbBPs#t=29s), because who is going to know more about blood?
-
As long as said vampire isn't one of the scarlets. We deserve better vampires to nibble on us.
That said, insisting to a student isn't gonna do us much good, I don't think. Especially since this one seems even more timid than Sasha. We might get the location out of him if we threaten him, but I really don't wanna do that. Plus, if this Keine's anything like the Zuniverse one, she won't take too kindly to us threatening one of her students. Still, that doesn't mean we can't get anything out of bozo here.
>"I assume she's one of, if not the, leading expert in the field?"
-
>"I assume she's one of, if not the, leading expert in the field?"
>"Oh, absolutely," he replies. "It's just there hasn't been a lot to work with up to now. But this new dig, well... we're all really excited about it."
-
>Nod. "I can tell."
>"But, I assume there are other experts in the field, as well. If not here on this island, then at the academy, maybe?"
-
>Nod. "I can tell."
>"But, I assume there are other experts in the field, as well. If not here on this island, then at the academy, maybe?"
>"I'm... sure there are some," he says. "I'm not as up on it as you might think. Like I said, Freelands Archaic is a bit out of my specialty, but they were looking for students for the dig and, well..." His frowns deepens a little. "I'm sure some of the others at the Academy would know more than I do, anyway, but Professor Kamishirasawa is the best."
-
>Yeah, that figures.
>"Well, go ahead and take your pictures, I need to do a little thinking."
-
>Yeah, that figures.
>"Well, go ahead and take your pictures, I need to do a little thinking."
>He hesitates a moment. "Um... well... what are you going to do about the sword? Um, I mean I do need to actually be able to see it better than that... If I'm going to take some pictures of it, I mean."
-
>"Oh, right, that. Sorry."
>"Well, I can put it down, I think, but if I understand the way the power in this thing works, I have to stay in contact with it for it to do its thing. Trust me, you don't wanna see me if things go south. But I'll try minimum contact, say, a finger on the tip of the pommel, or something. Will that work for you?"
>What dowe know about cameras in general?
-
>"Oh, right, that. Sorry."
>"Well, I can put it down, I think, but if I understand the way the power in this thing works, I have to stay in contact with it for it to do its thing. Trust me, you don't wanna see me if things go south. But I'll try minimum contact, say, a finger on the tip of the pommel, or something. Will that work for you?"
>"Um, well, I guess..." he says warily, looking at where the sword hangs at your side.
>What dowe know about cameras in general?
>They are Kappa technology, used for taking photographs of objects. You're not closely acquainted with their workings, though you know that most require specialized film which subsequently needs to be developed before the photos can be seen, although you've heard that this is unnecessary in some of the more advanced models. They're rather uncommon in this part of the world, though this is not the first you've seen. This example is both larger and more solid looking than previous ones; you wouldn't be surprised if it was designed with durability in mind, perhaps for field work in rough conditions.
-
>Pull the sword from its scabbard, but not too quickly, no need to alarm the nerd with the camera.
>Give him a moment to appraise it, then set it down on the cloth.
>Try to accomodate his shutterbugging as best we can, while leaving at least part of one hand on the blade.
>"Thinking about this sword, though. Does the grand academy have a.... religious studies section? I was told this sword might be connected to an old faith, and that its power is as much faith-based as magic, if not moreso."
-
>Pull the sword from its scabbard, but not too quickly, no need to alarm the nerd with the camera.
>Give him a moment to appraise it, then set it down on the cloth.
>Try to accomodate his shutterbugging as best we can, while leaving at least part of one hand on the blade.
>You gently unsheathe Kumokirimaru. Rather than alarm him, this seems to momentarily distract him from his worries as he closely watches the sword come into full view. You give him a moment to get a good look at it then put it down on the cloth, keeping a minimal amount of contact with the weapon. Takeshi takes up the camera again and frames a shot, apparently trying to keep you out of the picture as best he can. His discomfort is obvious, but he nonetheless applies himself to the task diligently, taking numerous photos from different distances and angles. He says little, other than occasionally asking if you could shift your hand to another part of the weapon, so as to give him a clearer view of some detail or another. You oblige him as best you can.
>"Thinking about this sword, though. Does the grand academy have a.... religious studies section? I was told this sword might be connected to an old faith, and that its power is as much faith-based as magic, if not moreso."
>"Of course," he replies, then frowns. "Well... of an academic sort, anyway. History, social significance, that sort of thing. We don't actually teach faith arts there. Not sure how well the magicians would take it if someone tried."
-
>Did Marisa ever mention any sort of friction between religion and the arcane?
>If not, "Magicians and churchies not on the same page?"
-
>Did Marisa ever mention any sort of friction between religion and the arcane?
>If not, "Magicians and churchies not on the same page?"
>Not particularly; certainly she never seemed to have any issue with religious people, though she wasn't very religious herself. But you're not sure how much contact she actually maintained with magicians' circles; in a strange way, she almost didn't seem the type - too much of a free spirit. Or a loose cannon, to be less polite about it.
>He frowns slightly. "Well, it's just... not really an academic discipline, you know? A lot of it's supposed to work through intuition or something like that. Magic is rigorous and scholarly and follows the same principles whether you believe in it or not. Or at least that's what they say; I'm certainly no magician. Besides, shrines and temples and that all have their own traditions. The Academy's not really the place for it."
-
>"Then if I were to look for an expert on matters of faith, I'd be better served asking about the city proper, not just the academy grounds. And of course the academy itself is the place to go for matters of the magical world."
-
>"Then if I were to look for an expert on matters of faith, I'd be better served asking about the city proper, not just the academy grounds. And of course the academy itself is the place to go for matters of the magical world."
>"Well, like I said, people have tried to study and classify it, and certainly lots has been written about it. But if you're looking for someone who can work it, I doubt you'll find them there." Then he shrugs. "Then again, we get all kinds."
-
>"I'll bet."
>"Don't suppose you'd know who'd be the go-to guy in the field of magic at the academy? Yeah, I know, it's not your specialty, but every place as big as the academy has a few bigwigs around that everyone knows. We Seekers sure do."
-
>"I'll bet."
>"Don't suppose you'd know who'd be the go-to guy in the field of magic at the academy? Yeah, I know, it's not your specialty, but every place as big as the academy has a few bigwigs around that everyone knows. We Seekers sure do."
>"I'm... not sure the bigwigs and the go-to guys would be the same people," he says a little hesitantly. "I mean, magic is what the Academy was founded on and the headmistress is a magician of considerable reputation. I've heard people call her a walking library. But she's also a bit... stiff. And she's the headmistress, too, so I'm not sure she'd want to sit and field questions from a stranger. Uh, no offense intended; she just seems a bit like that kind of person."
>He pauses and shakes his head. "I don't really know that end of the Academy well enough to say who'd be a good person to speak with about that, sorry. But I'm sure it wouldn't be hard to find if you went around and asked there, yourself. I'm sure someone would be happy to answer a few questions."
-
>Nod slowly.
>"Something to think about, then. Gotta assess my options here."
>Wait for him to finish his photo shoot.
-
>Nod slowly.
>"Something to think about, then. Gotta assess my options here."
>Wait for him to finish his photo shoot.
>You nod slowly and let Takeshi finish up. After several more photographs - you certainly can't fault the man for his thoroughness - he pauses, takes another look at the camera, and then lowers it.
>"I think that should be good," he says. "Well, at least given the circumstances. And, um... thank you." The tone of his last words comes out sounding almost more like a question than a statement; he still looks quite uncomfortable.
-
>"Would you mind taking a couple extra pictures for me, while you're here?"
-
>"Would you mind taking a couple extra pictures for me, while you're here?"
>"Uh, of the sword?" he asks, frowning slightly.
-
>"Of those black patches. I've been told this particular disease hasn't been seen in a very long time. Professor Kamishirasawa may know something about it that my last source didn't. And if she doesn't, well, call it evidence of an ancient disease."
-
>"Of those black patches. I've been told this particular disease hasn't been seen in a very long time. Professor Kamishirasawa may know something about it that my last source didn't. And if she doesn't, well, call it evidence of an ancient disease."
>His frown twists with nervous distaste. "Uh, I don't know...."
-
>"Yeah, I know, they're ugly. And it's probably a longshot. But I'm trying to cover every base I can think of. I'm only trying to save my life after all."
>"Which reminds me. I know you folks have sealed your dig site, and that your boss doesn't really want to spend time talking to some Seeker. But are you sure she wouldn't be willing to see me? I'm not looking for a score, or any kind of inside scoop, that's your turf. I'm just trying to beat this thing, before it beats me."
-
>"Yeah, I know, they're ugly. And it's probably a longshot. But I'm trying to cover every base I can think of. I'm only trying to save my life after all."
>"Which reminds me. I know you folks have sealed your dig site, and that your boss doesn't really want to spend time talking to some Seeker. But are you sure she wouldn't be willing to see me? I'm not looking for a score, or any kind of inside scoop, that's your turf. I'm just trying to beat this thing, before it beats me."
>"I... still don't see why you think we can help you," he says, frowning. "We're archaeologists, not... doctors or priests or whatever."
-
>"History. Minoriko told me that whatever this disease is, it comes from a time long ago, used by a people that barely exist anymore. In order to beat a disease, any disease, you have to know it. I need to know as much as I can about the time period involved, and any historical records pertaining to it, or them."
-
>"History. Minoriko told me that whatever this disease is, it comes from a time long ago, used by a people that barely exist anymore. In order to beat a disease, any disease, you have to know it. I need to know as much as I can about the time period involved, and any historical records pertaining to it, or them."
>"And you think this was... related to the Freelands Archaic culture, somehow?"
-
>"Am I certain? No. But the timeframe probably matches up. The sword has Archaic script on it, and according to Minoriko, the disease has its origins in the era when Archaic would have been the common tongue."
-
>"In short, that's about all I have to grab onto outside of some other longshot hopes."
-
>"Am I certain? No. But the timeframe probably matches up. The sword has Archaic script on it, and according to Minoriko, the disease has its origins in the era when Archaic would have been the common tongue."
>"In short, that's about all I have to grab onto outside of some other longshot hopes."
>His eyes narrow. "Wait... common tongue? I don't think we even know if it ever was. I mean, we don't know who lived out here during this period, but I don't think there's any evidence that connects them to us. Well, I mean there's inscriptions from Old Higan that are probably just as old, and the scripts aren't even similar. Did... she really say that?"
-
Oh, lord, I've just had a thought. I've been operating under the assumption that the spider youkai of ages past made this disease, unleashed it upon their enemies. What if that's not the case? What if the plague simply existed when the arachnids were prevalent, and our would-be killer was simply using something she'd been told of from years past? If it IS Yamame, then she would have that power.
>Take a moment to think back to our meeting with Minoriko after we awoke plagued.
>"Well, she mentioned the disease was old. Real old. I think we're talking around a millenia here, but I can't be sure, she wouldn't give me a time frame. And the sword itself is plenty old as well, obviously. As near as we can determine, the sword was designed to combat... Well, not the disease, specifically, but the one that used it against me..."
>Have a seat. "There's a lot I don't know. Too much. Every answer I found before just led me to another question, sometimes two more questions. And I don't even really know where to start to try and find answers. You folks and your professor were the best lead I had."
-
That's actually what I was assuming. But I figure that using it would involve more than spider youkai just knowing the name, she'd have to have some pertinent information to use it. Not to mention that if a weapon was specifically crafted to deal with them and there was some near genocidal conflict, then likely they were causing trouble in some respect.
-
bloody hell, get into a grove at work get ready to post and such before work start up every day and what happens? computer fries. well now i am all caught up again and work no longer feels quite so tiring.
now onto the matter at hand. we basically left with two options to cure are selves that i can see. The dig, or the grand academy. because it take to long to get to both. this is for standard tie frames we been given. however we still need to see if we can't find a fast ship, maybe tengu if where lucky, i i remember reading them having faster boats right. hell might get someone willing to treat us as guards for their shipment if where lucky.
however we really are at a loss for information. i like the grand academy, if only because it provides a wide variety of options. the few others in the same field, mighty magicians, people who might know more about that which is effecting us specifically, probably more churches there since it s bigger city, *chuckles* better chance to find vampire if we go with purvis idea.
where as the dig. yes it has a link, but we don't know if the sword men to battle disease in general, spider made things, or if as said before. if are disease has anything to do with the spiders, i mean the race of spider people might not have had the same powers are are 'friend'.
the dig gives us one good shot, and the big city gives us a number of fair shots. in this case i rather attack are problem with a shot gun.
-
>Take a moment to think back to our meeting with Minoriko after we awoke plagued.
>"Well, she mentioned the disease was old. Real old. I think we're talking around a millenia here, but I can't be sure, she wouldn't give me a time frame. And the sword itself is plenty old as well, obviously. As near as we can determine, the sword was designed to combat... Well, not the disease, specifically, but the one that used it against me..."
>Have a seat. "There's a lot I don't know. Too much. Every answer I found before just led me to another question, sometimes two more questions. And I don't even really know where to start to try and find answers. You folks and your professor were the best lead I had."
>A twinge of sympathy works its way into his frown, though he still rather reminds you of someone staring down an unstable explosive.
>"Well... I suppose I can see that. She is the best; I just..." He hesitates a moment, then shakes his head. "I don't know. Maybe I'm wrong, but I'm not sure even she can translate all of this. Yet. The dig we're at is really promising, and I'm sure we're going to learn more about the language before we're done here. Maybe a lot more. It's the biggest find in the history of work on this culture. But it's going to take a while; this sort of stuff always takes more time and work and guessing than people think it does, and for all anyone knows this inscription could just be a list of hereditary titles of whoever forged the sword or something like that. You'd be surprised how often that sort of thing happens."
>He hesitates a moment. "I can ask her if she knows about any diseases being mentioned in the texts we've found so far. I honestly don't think there is, but like I said, it's not my specialty. I'm... not sure there's anything else I can do for you."
-
>"You could take me there. It's not like I have a surplus of time of my hands to deal with this."
-
>"You could take me there. It's not like I have a surplus of time of my hands to deal with this."
>His frown deepens, then he shakes his head. "I... don't have the authority to do that. Besides, I don't go back for another week, anyway."
-
>"Then you could tell me where she is, and I'll go find her."
-
>"Then you could tell me where she is, and I'll go find her."
>He tenses a little. "I don't have the charts for the route. Uh, even if I was allowed to share them. Which I'm not..."
-
>Frown.
>"Who does have them?"
-
>Frown.
>"Who does have them?"
>There is a pronounced pause. "I'm... probably not supposed to say."
-
>Flat tone.
>"You realize I'm dying, right? in fact, you realize I'm dying and I went out of my way to spend what precious time I have to show you guys this sword, right? Is this really how I'm going to be treated?"
>Where are we in relation to this guy and the door? What other ways out are there?
-
>Flat tone.
>"You realize I'm dying, right? in fact, you realize I'm dying and I went out of my way to spend what precious time I have to show you guys this sword, right? Is this really how I'm going to be treated?"
>The man's discomfiture grows acute. "I- I don't know what to say. I'm not a doctor, I don't know anything about diseases, I don't know what I'm supposed to do. I can't get in touch with the professor immediately, and even if I could, she can't translate it just like that, and I'm sure how that's supposed to help you, even if she could."
>Where are we in relation to this guy and the door? What other ways out are there?
>You are currently sitting down in a chair near the desk on which the photos were taken. Hideki is a couple feet away from you, on the other end of the desk. The door back to the hallway is some feet distant, on the other side of the room; it's slightly closer to you than him, although not by much. Otherwise, there is a window near you, just to the left of the desk, and another door against a third wall; given the lack of a bed in the current room, you suspect that is where it probably leads.
-
>"I'll help you figure what you're supposed to do. You help me get in touch with this Kamashirasawa, because she's one of the few people who might know anything about these disease, because there sure as hell haven't been anyone in the medical profession who has. Tell me who knows how to get to her, give me a little signed note that says I'm alright, and then you've done what you can, right?"
>Roll up our sleeve again and move the blight toward him. "Look at this. Does this look like I'm kidding or like I'm trying to scam you? Go on, take a close look if you want. Do you think I'm joking about this?"
-
Medical profession.... I hadn't considered that. I'd been so focused on the historical/mystical side of this disease, I'd forgotten that it is still a disease. Maybe we should try that angle, as a big city like Val Razua's gotta have better medical resources available than Braston here. To say nothing of better historical records, and better experts on religion, and of course, more mages, if that route proves viable.
The more I think about it, the more that seems our best option.
EDIT: Assuming of course, like I, and Nary, said before, we can find a faster ship than the normal 'week-long' affair, that's time we can't afford to waste. I don't know if we'll find tengu or not (and personally I hope not, because that probably means Aya, and I cannot stand Aya. Hatate and Momiji? Sure, no problems there. Aya, I'd be tempted to pitch her over the railing once we get over open water), but hopefully there's SOMETHING here we can use.
But on the other hand, a tengu SHIP, now, that's a different story. That, we can steal. That'd be kinda neat, actually.
>"On the other hand, I'm prepared to accept that your boss may not be able to help me. I don't LIKE it, but it would be in keeping with my track record so far. Now, you seem a decent enough fella, and you know what's at stake. You're not certain Kamishirasawa can help me, and you probably wouldn't keep saying that if you thought there was any chance. So tell me about the medical services of Val Razua."
>Hold up a hand. "I know, I know, that's not your field of expertise. But from what you've seen, the city's gotta have more resources in that field than Braston, right?"
-
>"I'll help you figure what you're supposed to do. You help me get in touch with this Kamashirasawa, because she's one of the few people who might know anything about these disease, because there sure as hell haven't been anyone in the medical profession who has. Tell me who knows how to get to her, give me a little signed note that says I'm alright, and then you've done what you can, right?"
>Roll up our sleeve again and move the blight toward him. "Look at this. Does this look like I'm kidding or like I'm trying to scam you? Go on, take a close look if you want. Do you think I'm joking about this?"
>"I could get thrown out of school for that," he says, growing yet more agitated. "And even if I told you, they probably wouldn't take you there, either. Not without the professor's permission. They're on retainer and I know they're not allowed to spread word either. And even if you had permission, they're probably not ready to set out again today. I'll write her a letter, but that's all I can do. Really!"
>You roll up your sleeve and thrust the blighted mark towards Hideki again. He practically recoils from it, eyes glancing at it nervously, but mostly trying to keep from looking at it at all.
>"I- I didn't say you were lying!" he protests. "But there isn't anything else I can do!"
>"On the other hand, I'm prepared to accept that your boss may not be able to help me. I don't LIKE it, but it would be in keeping with my track record so far. Now, you seem a decent enough fella, and you know what's at stake. You're not certain Kamishirasawa can help me, and you probably wouldn't keep saying that if you thought there was any chance. So tell me about the medical services of Val Razua."
>Hold up a hand. "I know, I know, that's not your field of expertise. But from what you've seen, the city's gotta have more resources in that field than Braston, right?"
>Your sudden change in tact seems to catch the flustered student off-guard, though he seems visibly relieved by it after a few moments.
>"Of course," he says hastily. "I mean, you're right, I don't know much about medicine, but... Val Razua is the intellectual capital of Gensokyo. The Academy has the world's largest collection of books on hundreds of topics, and I know there's plenty on herbology and medicinal alchemy and stuff like that. I mean, I haven't read any of them, but I know they're there. I'm sure the city has better physicians than you can find here, or at least they'd have access to more resources. Braston's kind of rural in comparison."
-
>"Leave the people running the ship to me, if it comes to that. You just tell me what you can, and you'll have my word it won't go no farther. If it did, it'd just put me in a worse position to ask for help if I did let it slip, after all."
-
I think it might be time to stop badgering this guy. He's just a flunky after all. He's made it clear he's said as much as he can. Pressing him isn't gonna get us anywhere.
>Withdraw our arm, and roll our sleeve back down.
>Offer him a nod and a small grin. "See, now, that's what I was hoping to hear. Ain't much of a bookie, myself, but at this point, I can make an exception or two."
>"Although... do I need to bring sweets or something to bribe the library staff to let me in, or look around? I've had a bit of a bad run with folks in power, too, so I've learned the value of a little warning."
-
>"Leave the people running the ship to me, if it comes to that. You just tell me what you can, and you'll have my word it won't go no farther. If it did, it'd just put me in a worse position to ask for help if I did let it slip, after all."
>There is an awkward silence, as Hideki seems to have trouble deciding whether he should be looking at you or the floor.
>"I... I can't say," he eventually squeaks out. "I just can't. I promise I'll get in touch with the professor as soon as I can, but that's all I can do."
>Withdraw our arm, and roll our sleeve back down.
>Offer him a nod and a small grin. "See, now, that's what I was hoping to hear. Ain't much of a bookie, myself, but at this point, I can make an exception or two."
>"Although... do I need to bring sweets or something to bribe the library staff to let me in, or look around? I've had a bit of a bad run with folks in power, too, so I've learned the value of a little warning."
>You pull your arm away from him and pull your sleeve back down. Hideki seems visible relieved by this gesture.
>"No, the library's open to the public," he says. "Well, most of it. There are archives and rare books sections that you need special permission for, but the head librarian would probably give you the stare of death if you tried to bribe her. It shouldn't be hard to find someone there who'll help you find whatever you're looking for, though."
-
>Progress is progress. Little though it may be.
>"Well, then I suppose I'll have to find a fast boat."
>Keep a chuckle to ourselves. Little pencilneck got way more than he bargined for here. "This your first time out in the field?"
-
>Progress is progress. Little though it may be.
>"Well, then I suppose I'll have to find a fast boat."
>Keep a chuckle to ourselves. Little pencilneck got way more than he bargined for here. "This your first time out in the field?"
>Not just yet.
Is Nazrin really going to take being told "Wait here and die?" so well? Given she's helped them and such, and the closest thing to a response she's getting is "Um, maybe. Please let us waste your time while we dick around even though you just gave us more help than anyone else ever has." I mean, it's not like she has the days to waste that this would take.
I think it's drawing close to time to collect fingers.
-
You cannot be serious.
What more do you expect from this guy? He's just a student, barely a flunky. And besides, what do you think Keine will do to us if we have to threaten one of her students to see her, let alone actually hurt him? She'll take OUR fingers, among other things.
Obviously, Naz wouldn't be altogether happy about things, but she's smart enough not to waste time arguing with small fries. She IS, however, canny enough to charge Keine more than she would have if and when we see her later, for the location of that torii gate in the spider hole.
Harassing this guy has reached the end of whatever usefulness it may have had. It's time to move on.
>Progress is progress. Little though it may be.
>"Well, then I suppose I'll have to find a fast boat."
>Keep a chuckle to ourselves. Little pencilneck got way more than he bargined for here. "This your first time out in the field?"
-
He definitely has more to tell us, he's even said as much. He could tell us who takes them there, and give us a note saying we're good people. He can most certainly share that much. Instead, he's literally saying we should lay down and die so they can have their secrets. How would anyone take this sitting down?
-
>Progress is progress. Little though it may be.
>"Well, then I suppose I'll have to find a fast boat."
>Keep a chuckle to ourselves. Little pencilneck got way more than he bargined for here. "This your first time out in the field?"
>"No," he replies, then frowns. "Well, yes and no. I've done a little work out near Rokugou before, but nothing like this."
-
>Is that a name we know?
>Dryly, "Bet things haven't gone quite as you'd expected, have they."
-
>Is that a name we know?
>Dryly, "Bet things haven't gone quite as you'd expected, have they."
>It doesn't really ring a bell.
>Hideki looks at you blankly for a moment. "You... could say that."
-
>"Trust me, I can relate. This problem I got here? Happened to me when I was looking for a couple missing cows."
>"Which reminds me, there's something I discussed with Sasha when she was in, not sure if she mentioned it to your boss. When you're in contact with Kamishirasawa next, mention to her that there's something else I'd like to discuss with her, outside of this disease thing. Something she might find almost as interesting as those old... Well, whatever you folks found up there."
>"Of course, given her current indisposition, this'll probably be for after I find a cure for myself, but- assuming, by some miracle, I can come up with SOME luck- I'm still willing to make plans that far down the road."
-
>"Trust me, I can relate. This problem I got here? Happened to me when I was looking for a couple missing cows."
>"Which reminds me, there's something I discussed with Sasha when she was in, not sure if she mentioned it to your boss. When you're in contact with Kamishirasawa next, mention to her that there's something else I'd like to discuss with her, outside of this disease thing. Something she might find almost as interesting as those old... Well, whatever you folks found up there."
>"Of course, given her current indisposition, this'll probably be for after I find a cure for myself, but- assuming, by some miracle, I can come up with SOME luck- I'm still willing to make plans that far down the road."
>He frowns slightly. "Is that... about where you found that sword?"
-
>"Ah, she did mention that, then."
-
>"Ah, she did mention that, then."
>He nods.
-
>Small grin, "Well, good, then, means I don't have to say it twice."
>"Did she seem interested?"
-
>Small grin, "Well, good, then, means I don't have to say it twice."
>"Did she seem interested?"
>"I'm pretty sure," he says. "Things have been real busy here for a while, and are probably going to say that way for a long time yet, but you just can't hear of something like this without taking an interest in it. If there's even a few more artifacts in this kind of condition... It could be big."
-
>"Good. Then I have at least two stops to make now, once I'm better. Always good to have plans."
>"At least, I assume you folks'll be here for a couple weeks, at least?"
-
>"Good. Then I have at least two stops to make now, once I'm better. Always good to have plans."
>"At least, I assume you folks'll be here for a couple weeks, at least?"
>"We'll be here longer than that," he says. "Well, some of us will. I... hope I'm back home by then, to be honest, but the professor will probably still be here. Or at least someone will be in charge on-site."
-
>Have we sheathed our sword yet? If not, do so. And stand if we are seated.
>Home... Kind of a nice word.
>"Well, I suppose I'd best be on my way. Have to see if I can find a boat that can get between here and the big city in less than a week. If I can't... Well, I'll cross that bridge when I come to it."
>Does Val Razua have a nickname that we know of? The Big Orange, perhaps?
>What's the name of the continent Val Razua lies on, if it has a name at all?
-
>Have we sheathed our sword yet? If not, do so. And stand if we are seated.
>Home... Kind of a nice word.
>"Well, I suppose I'd best be on my way. Have to see if I can find a boat that can get between here and the big city in less than a week. If I can't... Well, I'll cross that bridge when I come to it."
>Does Val Razua have a nickname that we know of? The Big Orange, perhaps?
>What's the name of the continent Val Razua lies on, if it has a name at all?
>You sheathe Kumokirimaru and stand up again.
>The sentiment rings a little deeply at the moment. Going home implies that you'll still be around to go anywhere when the time comes...
>Hideki gives you a tentative nod.
>You've sometimes heard it called the 'jewel of Gensokyo', but typically it's just referred to by its name.
>The primary landmasses occupied by the central nations are generally referred to collectively as Inner Gensokyo. The region on which the city of Val Razua itself is located may have a more specific name, but you do not know it.
-
>Return the little nerd's nod, then depart.
>Upon leaving the building, look around for an appropriate wall to punch. Hard. Then do so.
>Take a few minutes to let the bile and ire from the frustration of yet another dead end settle down.
>Make for the harbour, see what boats look the fastest.
-
We're just leaving? I thought you were trying to guilt the guy.
-
>Return the little nerd's nod, then depart.
>Upon leaving the building, look around for an appropriate wall to punch. Hard. Then do so.
>Take a few minutes to let the bile and ire from the frustration of yet another dead end settle down.
>Make for the harbour, see what boats look the fastest.
>You give a nod back to the nervous student, then turn and exit the room. Your face is calmly neutral as you make your way out of the inn, betraying nothing of your inner state following that meeting. You stride briskly past the people milling around the nearby storefronts and turn down a small side street. The featureless and unadorned walls lining this section suggests it runs along the rear of some of the adjoining businesses, but at the moment you frankly do not care - it is empty.
>You turn and slam your fist into the nearest stonework hard enough to draw a wince from you at any other time. But you do not react to it; your expression is flat save for the frustration seething darkly behind your eyes. Dammit! You'd pinned your hopes on this! You'd waited, and all you'd gotten out of it is the promise of more waiting. You don't have time to wait! You don't have time...
>You stay like that a moment, letting your resentment churn and eventually play itself out. You let out an irritated sigh; nothing for it now but to keep going and hope that something goes your way. No one ever said that finding a cure for an ancient disease would be easy, even for you; it just damn well better be possible. You head westward towards the harbor.
>As the most important mining center for the Outer Freelands and indeed Val Razua itself, much of the traffic out of Braston is industrial and the tone of the port district reflects this; the docks are ringed with blocks of warehouses and offices of shipping concerns, crammed together in a seemingly haphazard fashion, and the bustle of workers moving goods in and out is near-constant. Oni are a common sight here, as they are in many professions where muscle is a major qualification, and their raucous chatter rises above the general clamor - spirited in whatever they do. You cut smoothly through the activity and make your way to the docks proper.
>There is a token organization to the harborfront, with berths grouped roughly by size and type of cargo, but like most of the rest of the town, the growth of the harbor was organic and often hasty; concessions to necessity or simply impatience have resulted in an odd hodgepodge of industrial and passenger docks staggered in among each other in a rough semicircle along the island's edge. In the open sky beyond, you can see the faint iridescent shimmer of the aether stream in the bright afternoon sun.
>As usual, the docks are dominated by thick and stolid vessels designed to move maximum goods in minimum comfort. While there are a range of sizes and styles in evidence at the moment, they are all alike in their unabashedly utilitarian designs, their hulls flanked by the bulky turbines needed to lift such heavy loads and often emblazoned with the emblem of one shipping company or another. While they are undeniably powerful vessels, most are also not particularly speedy. In among these, you also see a couple vessels of slighter build, positively dwarfed by some of the larger freighters; these would mostly be passenger ferries connecting Braston with other islands in the Outer Freelands, with perhaps the occasional short-range cargo ship in among them. You don't actually see any of the larger passenger vessels docked at the moment - those which could safely make the crossing to Val Razua. This is moderately unusual, though you suppose it doesn't matter; it's not like any of them would keep a fast enough timetable for your current situation. You see no Tengu ships docked at the moment either, though this is hardly surprising; visits from Tengu are a rarity, and while their vessels are famously swift and agile, it's not like they'd be willing to let you hitch a ride anyway - their isolationism, and frankly their imperiousness, runs deep indeed.
>One vessel among all these does catch your eye, however; it is moderately-sized and broad-hulled enough to suggest a cargo transport, yet there is a certain sleekness to its appearance. Rather than the fat barrel-like hulls of the industrial fleet, many of the features of this ship are streamlined, with a narrow tapered prow and swept tail. At first glance it appears to be a standard twin-rotor engine design, but you also notice a bank of smaller turbines running along the sides of the vessel. It still has the air of a working ship, but it looks like there's some real power and maneuverability in it for its size. It is painted deep blue with white accents, and doesn't seem to bear any company insignia that you recognize.
-
Guilt him? Never occured to me.
Besides, him feeling guilty wouldn't have done us mch good. He'd already said he wasn't prepared to risk his career for us.
Mind you, I'm not simply forgetting about him either. I'm thinking that he, peripherally, might still be an avenue for us if we don't find anything here at the docks. Which wouldn't surprise me in the LEAST, but that's a whole 'nother quentil of fish.
If we can't find our millenium falcon here, that leaves Keine still, but threatening and bullying her students isn't the way to go about it. Subtletly is. We can shadow him, follow Hideki around, see this skimmer they use to move back and forth. If we're lucky, we can stowaway aboard it and get taken to the site directly. We'll have to do some fast talking when we get there, but she'll be more receptive to our presence that way, than if we'd cracked her boy's head. If we can't stowaway, we could still be able to learn the skimmer's route, and either follow it ourselves on foot, or hire our own transport to take us there, once we know where we're going.
That said, however, we do seem to have at least one obvious lead here, so, let's see where it goes, if anywhere.
>Approach this blue and white ship.
>Check it for name plates and obvious signs of activity aboard and around.
>Does it appear to be obviously armed?
>Are there any fairies about here? *chuckle* Or would the oni all scare em away?
>Do Oni or Kappa have their own ships, like Tengu do? If we know, would we recognize them if we saw one?
>Be on guard for pickpockets.
-
>Approach this blue and white ship.
>Check it for name plates and obvious signs of activity aboard and around.
>Does it appear to be obviously armed?
>Be on guard for pickpockets.
>You head towards the ship for a closer look. You don't see any obvious sign of weapons at this distance, but this isn't unusual for a transport vessel. You keep a mild guard for pickpockets as you go, but it's frankly a rather painful profession to be practicing with so many Oni about; most are not shy about breaking a bone or two even if they catch you stealing from someone else.
>As you draw closer to the ship, you note two people nearby having a spirited argument. Or, perhaps more accurately, one person having a spirited argument while the other listens coolly and interjects with the occasional remark that apparently serves only to rile her counterpart further.
>Are there any fairies about here? *chuckle* Or would the oni all scare em away?
>There are a few fairies about, though not many at the moment. While heavy lifting is most certainly outside their domain, there are some other jobs in the district that employ them, or they might simply be wandering through for a stroll and a look at the harbor. Fairies are notoriously difficult to scare off in the long-term. While you have no doubt that an Oni could quickly send one packing, their notoriously shaky memories and abject lack of considering the consequences of their actions could easily bring them round again. They aren't seen much in the north end of town, where the Oni are thickest, but you think this is more because of the noise and harsh smells of industry; there are simply other places they'd rather hang out, where there are more cookies and pies and less smelting and grime.
>Do Oni or Kappa have their own ships, like Tengu do? If we know, would we recognize them if we saw one?
>While the Oni are not a particularly skyfaring race, most of the ships in the harbor would have their engines either built by Kappa or based upon their designs. The reason Tengu ships are distinct is more a matter of their isolationism and national identity than each race flying their own particular ships. Kappa and Oni live among the other races, while the Tengu are a separate distinct nation. You could certainly recognize some differences in the design of a ship hailing from Hanashibara and one from Braston, but you would hardly call them a Kappa or Oni ship, respectively.
-
>Walking around Oni gives an odd sense of security and nervousness.
>Slow our walk and open an ear for the arguing pair. Visual appraisal of both.
-
>Walking around Oni gives an odd sense of security and nervousness.
>Slow our walk and open an ear for the arguing pair. Visual appraisal of both.
>They won't sneak up on you, but that doesn't mean they mightn't barrel through you.
>You slow down a little and turn your ears towards their conversation. At this distance you can't see them very clearly, but you can hear them well enough if you pay attention.
>"...fail to see the problem," comes the composed voice. It seems to belong to a woman in a white sun hat, currently back-on to you. She is wearing a purple shawl over a short-sleeved white dress.
>"The whole cargo's gonna rot by then and you know it!" a shorter dark-haired woman counters angrily. She is wearing what looks to be a white sailor suit trimmed in teal, with loose-fitting shorts, and is practically in the other woman's face, though this seems to be having no effect on her opponent's composure.
>"Those are the rules." There is an air of quiet imperiousness to the other's words.
>"Then get better rules!"
-
>Do we recognize either of these women?
>Casually, stroll roughly in their direction. Keep ears open.
-
>Do we recognize either of these women?
>Casually, stroll roughly in their direction. Keep ears open.
>You do not.
>You casually stroll in their general direction while continuing to listen to their conversation.
>"Your opinion is noted," the sun-hatted woman says calmly.
>"Nice way of saying 'ignored'," the other grumbles bitterly.
>"I have an entire harbor to maintain, Miss Murasa. I do not make exceptions for loud people." A note of distaste seeps subtly through her poise at this epithet.
>Murasa chuckles darkly. "Want me to whisper it in your ear, then?"
>"I'm afraid one of us, at least, has better things to do. If you wish to salvage your shipment, I suggest you apply yourself to something more productive."
-
>Have we ever gone sailing before? Or had to arrange for passage on a ship? If so, how does one do this?
>Related to that, is there any kind of registry for ships to publically declare their destinations.
-
>Have we ever gone sailing before? Or had to arrange for passage on a ship? If so, how does one do this?
>Related to that, is there any kind of registry for ships to publically declare their destinations.
>Yes, but not often. During your apprenticeship, there were a few jobs you went along on which took you to nearby islands in the Outer Freelands, though you've never been outside of them; the trip to Val Razua would be substantially longer and cross rougher skies. You weren't actually the one to arrange passage in those cases, either, but you know the regular ferry services have offices near the docks where you can purchase tickets. Passage on less conventional transports would probably require dealing with either their owner or captain.
>The ferries follow regular routes which you could easily check at the same place you'd buy tickets. For the other ships, you imagine they have manifests which are registered with the customs office, at least.
-
>Does Braston cater to more traditional ships as well as airships, or is it exclusively airship based?
>Now that we're close enough, keep our ears on their conversation.
-
>Does Braston cater to more traditional ships as well as airships, or is it exclusively airship based?
>Now that we're close enough, keep our ears on their conversation.
>Airships are plenty traditional, but in terms of waterfaring vessels, Estval lacks any major waterways that are used for transportation and the port is not near water at all. Many of the vessels here are amphibious, though, as Hanashibara in particular has numerous waterways, and quite a few airship ports there are accessible only via an amphibious approach.
>You continue to listen in:
>"I'd be doing somethin' more productive if you'd just quit bein' a rule-spewing zombie for five minutes and let us do our job. You know this is bullshit."
>"You have my answer, captain," the other woman replies coldly. "Good day."
>And with that, she turns her back to Murasa and calmly walks away. Murasa grimaces fiercely, then hurls her hat onto the ground in frustration.
-
>Glance sideways at the sailor woman.
>"Bureaucracy got ya stuck?"
-
>Glance sideways at the sailor woman.
>"Bureaucracy got ya stuck?"
>Murasa throws you a look that practically shouts 'What now?'
>"It can go stick itself for all I care," she replies sharply.
-
>"Yeah, I hear ya. Thing's never as simple as they oughta be."
-
>"Yeah, I hear ya. Thing's never as simple as they oughta be."
>She turns further towards you and seems to size you up briefly. "There somethin' you want from me?"
-
>"Well, now, that depends. I couldn't help but overhear some of the conversation you were having with that other woman. She called you 'captain', I believe?"
-
>"Well, now, that depends. I couldn't help but overhear some of the conversation you were having with that other woman. She called you 'captain', I believe?"
>She gives you a vaguely dubious look. "Yeah, what's it to ya?"
-
>"I happen to be in the market for a fast ship. I need to get to Val Razua in a rather big hurry. Must faster than the usual transports. And if you've a fast ship, then I have some business to discuss. Might even help you get around your own problem, whatever issue you were having with... Well, whoever that was. I assume she's one of the bosses around here?"
-
>"I happen to be in the market for a fast ship. I need to get to Val Razua in a rather big hurry. Must faster than the usual transports. And if you've a fast ship, then I have some business to discuss. Might even help you get around your own problem, whatever issue you were having with... Well, whoever that was. I assume she's one of the bosses around here?"
>"She runs customs," Murasa says. "And it sounds like you and me got the same problem. I'd be in Val Razua right now if it weren't for this... this..." She scowls again. "This bullshit."
-
>"Lemme guess, someone forgot to cross all the 't's' on some form, or something?"
-
>"Lemme guess, someone forgot to cross all the 't's' on some form, or something?"
>She pauses a moment and gives you another appraising look. "Someone stole our damn export license."
-
>Do we know what an export liscence is? If not, ask.
-
>Do we know what an export liscence is? If not, ask.
>You're fairly certain this is just formal authorization to ship certain kinds of goods out of Braston, and probably involves a complex web of goods classifications and export tariffs to which you are not fully privy. Either way, you're pretty sure commercial traffic can't legally operate without having the proper ones.
-
Well, at least my instincts were right about SOMETHING. I'd been thinking "If by some miracle we manage to find ship, we'll have a fetchquest before getting it?" Because that's how it always works, in my experience. Although I was expecting an engine part, or a kidnapped crewmember. A stolen liscense, that's new.
Of course, this could just be another job, if missy here doesn't have a fast ship. If she DOES have a fast ship, then we may be in business.
>"Ahhh, so you're stuck here until it turns up."
>"What if you were making a passenger run, rather than a cargo one? Would that circumvent the problem?"
-
>"Ahhh, so you're stuck here until it turns up."
>"What if you were making a passenger run, rather than a cargo one? Would that circumvent the problem?"
>"Not holding my breath on that one," she says. "Miss rod-up-her-ass wants us to file for a new one when she knows full-well we'd already done it before; we've shipped stuff through here more times than I can count. It'll take weeks to get all the paperwork done and we don't have weeks to sit around waiting for it."
>"Not without dumping the cargo, which is kinda why we're still stuck here."
-
>"Then it seems to me, what you need is a Seeker."
-
>"Then it seems to me, what you need is a Seeker."
>"Figured that was coming," she says, looking at you dryly. "But if you can get us out of here, I'm not about to complain about you tagging along for the ride."
-
>"Well, that's the other part of the equation. I kinda need to be in Val Razua yesterday, if you catch my drift. How fast does your ship go?"
-
>"Well, that's the other part of the equation. I kinda need to be in Val Razua yesterday, if you catch my drift. How fast does your ship go?"
>This actually draws a hint of a grin from her. "She's the fastest thing in the harbor, no question. Can't do yesterday, but we'll be gunning it once we can actually get out of this damn place, let me tell you."
-
>Fastest thing in the harbor, eh...
>Point to the racy-looking ship with the white and blue paint job with our tail.
>"That wouldn't be your ship there, would it?"
-
>Fastest thing in the harbor, eh...
>Point to the racy-looking ship with the white and blue paint job with our tail.
>"That wouldn't be your ship there, would it?"
>With your tail, you point at the ship that caught your attention earlier. Murasa follows the gesture with a raised eyebrow, then smiles once she realizes that you're actually trying to point at something with it.
>"That's her," she says. "Pretty nice, isn't she?"
-
>Nod. "Never seen one like her before."
>"What do you call her?|
-
>Nod. "Never seen one like her before."
>"What do you call her?|
>"She got a lot of custom work on her," Murasa says, her tone distinctly lighter than a few moments earlier. "Won't find some of the stuff in her anywhere else, I don't figure."
>Murasa smiles. "The Blue Maiden."
-
>Nod approvingly. "Good name for a fine lookin' ship."
>"Come to think of it, I never got your name yet."
>Turn to her and extend our hand. "Name's Nazrin."
-
>Nod approvingly. "Good name for a fine lookin' ship."
>"Come to think of it, I never got your name yet."
>Turn to her and extend our hand. "Name's Nazrin."
>"Murasa," she says, grasping your hand in a firm handshake. You note her give you another quick look up and down in the process.
-
>"But seriously, I am looking for some numbers here, just to put my mind at ease, if nothing else. About how long does it usually take your Maiden here to make Val R, on a good day? 3 days? 4?"
-
>"But seriously, I am looking for some numbers here, just to put my mind at ease, if nothing else. About how long does it usually take your Maiden here to make Val R, on a good day? 3 days? 4?"
>"Depends on how loaded down we are," she says. "At the moment, I think we can probably make the trip in a bit under 3."
-
>Smile.
>"That's one of the first bits of good news I've had in days."
>"Now, tell me a bit about this liscence of yours. The sooner I get started, the sooner we can be on our way."
-
>Smile.
>"That's one of the first bits of good news I've had in days."
>"Now, tell me a bit about this liscence of yours. The sooner I get started, the sooner we can be on our way."
>"Just a piece of paper with the right stamps on it," she says. "Good luck findin' something like that in a place this size. But hey, maybe you can surprise me?"
>She bends down and picks her hat up off the ground, dusting it a little with her other hand.
>"I keep it onboard, with the rest of the permits and junk. Noticed it missing the night before last, when we tried to leave. Grilled the crew about it, but no one saw anyone but us onboard that whole time, and we didn't exactly leave her deserted, neither."
>She flips the hat back onto her head. "But the damnedest thing is the record of issuing us one has up and vanished from the customs office, too. Hell, if I know how that happened. So missy red tape back there wants us to apply like we're new to all this. She didn't even try to deny that she remembers us, but hell if that matters to her; if it ain't in her little book, it doesn't exist." She lets out an irritated sigh.
-
>There goes the fairy theory.
>"Have you contacted the Watch about this? This is obviously more than someone just absconding with a piece of paper."
-
>There goes the fairy theory.
>"Have you contacted the Watch about this? This is obviously more than someone just absconding with a piece of paper."
>This does seem far too coordinated to be a random act of whimsy.
>She shakes her head. "They'd probably try to keep us here for the whole investigation, and I don't need anyone else on my back about that. I just want to scram as soon as possible."
-
>Nod. "With ya there."
>"Far as you know, you got any enemies here in town? Or anyone that would want to ground you?"
-
>Nod. "With ya there."
>"Far as you know, you got any enemies here in town? Or anyone that would want to ground you?"
>"Not that I can think of," she says. 'least no one who would pull this kinda stunt. Suppose it's possible, though."
-
>Can we douse for stamp glue? Or certain types of paper, or ink?
-
>Can we douse for stamp glue? Or certain types of paper, or ink?
>Unless there was something extremely distinctive about it, effectively no.
-
>"You'll have to forgive me for asking, but, you can vouch for your own crew, yes? None of them would be susceptible to bribes to pull this off?"
EDIT:
>"Or have the skills to pull it off, for that matter?"
-
>"You'll have to forgive me for asking, but, you can vouch for your own crew, yes? None of them would be susceptible to bribes to pull this off?"
>"What, and strand themselves here, too? 'sides, the money we lose on this is comin' out of their pay, too. Wouldn't make much sense, really."
>She shrugs. "Doesn't matter, anyhow. I know my crew; this wasn't any of them."
-
>"Alright, just had to cover all our bases. More possibilities we eliminate here, less running over town I have to do, faster we can be airborne."
>"Mind if have a look at the 'crime scene'? I'll check your harbormasters' place as well, see if I can pick up any clues there."
-
>"Alright, just had to cover all our bases. More possibilities we eliminate here, less running over town I have to do, faster we can be airborne."
>"Mind if have a look at the 'crime scene'? I'll check your harbormasters' place as well, see if I can pick up any clues there."
>Murasa nods, though her expression is rather drab.
>"Not gonna find anything worth seein' at my place," she says. "I keep all the paperwork and junk in my cabin, and trust me I've been over the place enough times by now already; whoever took it didn't leave much trace to find."
>She gives a wry chuckle and shakes her head. "Nothin' was even out of place, 'sides that. Wouldn't have noticed if we weren't trying to ship out."
-
>"Sounds like a pretty pro job."
>Do we know anyone that could pull that off?
>"Maybe someone just doesn't want you, or your cargo, in Val Razua."
-
>"Sounds like a pretty pro job."
>Do we know anyone that could pull that off?
>"Maybe someone just doesn't want you, or your cargo, in Val Razua."
>"Pretty much." She lets off another frustrated grumble.
>Most Seekers are acquainted with some part of the thief's trade, if only to spot its use by others, but this sounds a little beyond the aptitude of most you know. Marisa is certainly good at entering places where she's not wanted, but it's rather rare for her to leave them in the same state they were before her arrival. You don't know much about Lunasa's skill in that domain, but she's always seemed very detail-oriented, and who knows what Rinnosuke can do. But of the short list of people you know who might be capable of this, you can't think of any who'd be liable to actually try. You certainly don't know of any master thieves lurking about Braston, and if an export license is really all that was taken, you're probably not dealing with the usual sort of criminal.
>"Heaven forbid the city sees another papaya," she replies dryly.
-
>Laugh.
>"Yeah, it's a produce-hater conspiracy!"
>"But seriously, that's all you're hauling, fruit?"
-
>Laugh.
>"Yeah, it's a produce-hater conspiracy!"
>"But seriously, that's all you're hauling, fruit?"
>"Fruit, coffee, rivets, some fresh-harvested wynswort and shimmergrass. I can show you a copy of the manifest if you want, but I don't think you're gonna find anything too interesting on it."
-
>"Still couldn't hurt."
-
>"Still couldn't hurt."
>"Fair enough," she says, a hint of a tired sigh trailing her words.
-
>"I know, I know, but if there's one thing I've learned in my time, it's that ya never know where you'll find clues and leads."
-
>"I know, I know, but if there's one thing I've learned in my time, it's that ya never know where you'll find clues and leads."
>She shrugs. "Well, like I said: if you wanna see it, you can. Not like I've got better things to be doing at the moment."
-
>"I presume that's still aboard ship?"
-
>"I presume that's still aboard ship?"
>She nods. "Yeah."
-
>Polite incline of the head. "Lead on, then, captain."
By the way. For those of you wondering why I haven't been around as much over the past week, Xmas hours at my work started. I've had the past couple days off, but the week before was shot, and I've got another few days left ahead of me before D-Day. Which means I won't be around as much the next few days, either.
Which also means that, don't wait for me to move things along, if'n yall wants. My plans thus far were to have a look around the 'crime scene' on the boat, maybe douse for magic traces, though Murasa indicated that might not get us far, and then check that harbormaster's office, assuming she lets us. After that, at the moment, I got nothin'.
-
>Polite incline of the head. "Lead on, then, captain."
>"Ah, may as well." She lets out a deep breath and stretches, cricking her neck to one side. "Ok, c'mon."
>She sets off towards the Blue Maiden. Her gait has an oddly indolent air to it, but is still fairly brisk. She leads you over to the ship's berth and up a telescoping metal gangway to the main deck. A fiery redhead reclining casually against the deck railing tilts her head towards Murasa as she boards and gives a perfunctory salute, little more than a flick of her hand.
>"Cap'n."
>Murasa returns the gesture with a nod and keeps on walking. As you follow along, you catch the redhead following you subtly with one eye, an odd suggestion of a smirk of her face.
>The deck of the ship is a largely open affair, with the wheelhouse on an elevated structure at the aft, and a small deckhouse with stairs descending below deck towards the fore. A large hatch, presumably for cargo loading, is roughly in the middle. Murasa leads you down a short flight of stairs to a door at the base of the wheelhouse structure, then reaches into her pocket and pulls out a key on a short chain. She gives it a little twirl then puts it in the lock and swings the door open.
>"Well, here's the place," she says, stepping inside. "You got some trick for figuring out who's come and gone in the last couple days, you knock yourself out."
>You enter into what you assume to be the captain's cabin. It is a modestly spacious affair ringed with narrow reinforced windows along the walls that border on the ship's exterior. To one side is a square wooden table on a drab red throw rug, flanked by a pair of l-shaped benches with high backs. A few empty glasses and and a pack of playing cards lay strewn across it. To the other side is a large desk with a small scattering of papers and charts on it. Against a nearby wall rest several stolid chests and what looks to be a liquor cabinet. There is a second door along the back wall, perhaps leading to her sleeping quarters. The room somehow manages to look simultaneously spartan and untidy, which is rather a neat feat when you think about it.
>Murasa moves over to the deck and starts brusquely sifting through the drawers.
-
>Examine liquor cabinet and contents.
>Does the cabin have a window?
>Produce dowsing rods.
>"Any members of your crew mages?"
>Appraise both doors' locks for signs of recent tampering.
-
>Examine liquor cabinet and contents.
>The cabinet is a moderately-sized, yet stolid affair in dark-stained wood with a lighter filigree inlay. The doors are closed with a small silver latch that you discover is locked when you attempt to open them and examine the contents.
>Murasa glances in your direction and smirks. "Tryin' to get at the stash?"
>Does the cabin have a window?
>It has several, in fact. As clearly pointed out in the very first sentence describing the room.
>Produce dowsing rods.
>"Any members of your crew mages?"
>Appraise both doors' locks for signs of recent tampering.
>You produce your dowsing rods.
>"Not to speak of," she says, pulling a small bundle of papers out of the desk drawer.
>You double back and take a look at the lock on the door to the cabin. The locking mechanism is actually a bit more sophisticated than you might have expected and it takes you a little while to notice them, but a close inspection does turn up a few characteristic scratches on the mechanism's inner workings; It has definitely been picked at some point, though it would be hard to say for certain if this was recent. Examining the other door inside the cabin reveals a similar result. Whoever picked them did a very good job; you could almost have missed the traces of it entirely.
-
>Hey, was bound to miss something after the past two weeks. Bit surprised Sour got five points there at all.
>Perhaps we should have spicified 'visually examine' cabinet.
>"How about... lockpicking skills?"
-
>Perhaps we should have spicified 'visually examine' cabinet.
>"How about... lockpicking skills?"
>Perhaps.
>"Told ya I trust my crew," she says neutrally, "if that's what you're trying to get it."
>She takes a couple of papers from the bundle and hands them to you. "Here ya go - everything we're loaded down with now."
-
>"Thanks."
>Parouse list.
-
>"Thanks."
>Parouse list.
>For a moment, you consider parousing the cargo manifest, but then decide this is a silly idea and peruse it instead. It takes a little time to decipher some of it, due to the amount of unfamiliar shorthand involved, but at least the handwriting is clear. The contents do seem to be more or less as Murasa said; there are substantial quantities of fruit of various kinds, coffee beans, enough rivets to build a larger ship than the one you're standing on at the moment, the herbs she mentioned, as well as a few other mundanities like wool and leather from Northswald and a small quantity of boots and gloves. None of the items are especially exotic - the herbs are probably the most valuable by volume, but hardly precious - but in the quantities listed, there's a significant amount of money tied up in this shipment and most of it in perishables.
-
>There's a difference between parouse and peruse?
>"I believe you when you said you trust your crew, captain, I'm just trying to be thorugh." Or however you spell that damn word.
>"But that begs the question, and this is gonna sound weird, but... Have you ever had cause to pick your own door locks?"
-
>There's a difference between parouse and peruse?
>"I believe you when you said you trust your crew, captain, I'm just trying to be thorugh." Or however you spell that damn word.
>"But that begs the question, and this is gonna sound weird, but... Have you ever had cause to pick your own door locks?"
>In that one is a word and the other is not, yes.
>She waves a hand dismissively. "Yeah, yeah." It's thorough
>"Not these ones, anyhow," she says.
-
>"Well, then, somebody got aboard your ship, into this room and that one," point to her chamber door, "and off the ship again without anyone noticing. Because these locks have been tampered with."
-
>"Well, then, somebody got aboard your ship, into this room and that one," point to her chamber door, "and off the ship again without anyone noticing. Because these locks have been tampered with."
>She nods grimly, not looking very surprised by this. "Well, whoever it was took the license papers right out of this room, so I figured they must have. 'course, I don't really know when they took 'em; I don't exactly check the paperwork every day. Only noticed when we tried to leave port and got told we weren't cleared to go."
-
>"Still, it's a starting point. Not that many folks on the island that could do that, far as I know."
>Of course, it'd be better if WE know said person, and could track them down.
>"Gotta say, though, this is a different way to go about marooning someone somewhere, especially since it seems more 'delay' than 'ruin'. Has anything like this ever happened to any other captain, that you know of?"
-
>"Still, it's a starting point. Not that many folks on the island that could do that, far as I know."
>Of course, it'd be better if WE know said person, and could track them down.
>"Gotta say, though, this is a different way to go about marooning someone somewhere, especially since it seems more 'delay' than 'ruin'. Has anything like this ever happened to any other captain, that you know of?"
>Murasa lets out a frustrated sigh. "Yeah, neat trick, whoever it was."
>That does seem to be the crux of it.
>"Hadn't heard anything," she says. "Ships are still comin' and goin' like ever, anyway."
-
>So either Murasa herself, or someone on her crew, must not be wanted in Val Razua. At least, not for a while.
>"I may need to check with a friend of mine in the Watch. This has all the earmarks of a pro job, and they'd have records the Seekers don't, might be able to figure out who could pull this off. I know you don't want a full scale investigation, but I'll keep your name, and your ship's name, out of it."
>Do we know of a favourite watering hole for sailors when they come into port here?
-
>So either Murasa herself, or someone on her crew, must not be wanted in Val Razua. At least, not for a while.
>"I may need to check with a friend of mine in the Watch. This has all the earmarks of a pro job, and they'd have records the Seekers don't, might be able to figure out who could pull this off. I know you don't want a full scale investigation, but I'll keep your name, and your ship's name, out of it."
>Do we know of a favourite watering hole for sailors when they come into port here?
>That does seem a plausible theory.
>Murasa frowns a little. "Well... I suppose you lose you lose your ride too, if you get us stick here any longer than we already are, so I... guess it's okay. But only if you can trust this friend of yours not to start poking around to fill in what you're not."
>There are several bars and eateries in the vicinity of the port, and certainly no shortage as you head a little further north, but you don't know of any spot in particular that they congregate.
-
>Consider Orange's disposition.
>"I... think it'll be alright. My friend isn't always... the sharpest tool in the shed, shall we say? But I trust her, and she trusts me. She knows that when I'm being discreet, I have my reasons. And if need be, I know I can convince her to leave well enough alone. Trust me when I say, captain, I need to get to Val Razua even more than you do."
>"I suppose there's an outside chance she'll want to come with me, too, she's wanted to get out of this city for almost as long as I have. But, I can handle that, as well."
>"In the event that doesn't pan out though- that I can't get the info I'm after from her- you and your crew have a favourite hangout while you're here in town? Somewhere that people know you, that might know who'd have it in for you?"
-
>Consider Orange's disposition.
>"I... think it'll be alright. My friend isn't always... the sharpest tool in the shed, shall we say? But I trust her, and she trusts me. She knows that when I'm being discreet, I have my reasons. And if need be, I know I can convince her to leave well enough alone. Trust me when I say, captain, I need to get to Val Razua even more than you do."
>"I suppose there's an outside chance she'll want to come with me, too, she's wanted to get out of this city for almost as long as I have. But, I can handle that, as well."
>Orange is not the most perceptive or shrewd of people, but she is very dutiful; you would not be at all surprised if she would feel an obligation to make her reports to the proper people. That being said, you expect you could pull the friendship card on her to convince her to keep quiet, at least for a while; she does usually tend to defer to your judgement when it really counts.
>Murasa gives you a mildly chastening look, though her tone is light. "Now don't go thinking we're a passenger service just 'cause I said you could tag along."
>"In the event that doesn't pan out though- that I can't get the info I'm after from her- you and your crew have a favourite hangout while you're here in town? Somewhere that people know you, that might know who'd have it in for you?"
>"Doubt anyone here'd know who'd have it in for me if I didn't," she says. "And we get around a fair bit - not actually out this way all that often. I know Ishi likes to hang out at that... pineapple place, whatever it's called." She shakes her head and snickers. "And who knows what dives Chisato ends up in. Probably all of 'em."
-
>Pineapple place?
>Checks stored games
>"That pineapple place wouldn't happen to be the Melon Bowl, would it?"
-
>Pineapple place?
>Checks stored games
>"That pineapple place wouldn't happen to be the Melon Bowl, would it?"
>What? You cannot innately recall every proper noun that has been mentioned in this game? For shame.
>She scratches her head. "Uh... that sounds about right, I think."
-
I've skimmed, so maybe I've missed this.
If things were largely undisturbed, then the question is where she leaves it normally. Is it tucked away at all? If she doesn't have it in the open, then that means they knew where it was, if there were no signs at all of someone going through the place.
The next question is timeframe; she had to have had it when leaving the last time, at the very least. So when did she last see it for sure? And how long has she been on land since seeing it?
-
If things were largely undisturbed, then the question is where she leaves it normally. Is it tucked away at all? If she doesn't have it in the open, then that means they knew where it was, if there were no signs at all of someone going through the place.
If I read right, she keeps it in her desk drawer, with all her other papers. I'm thinking either an inside job (though I doubt Murasa will respond well to questions in that vein) or someone's been watching them/her for a while.
The next question is timeframe; she had to have had it when leaving the last time, at the very least. So when did she last see it for sure? And how long has she been on land since seeing it?
She said she noticed it missing the night before last, which was when they were supposed to depart. I don't believe she mentioned how long they've been in Braston here, directly.
-
>"How long have you been in port?"
-
>"How long have you been in port?"
>"About a week," she says, then frowns a little in concentration. "Um... think we landed eight days ago now? Yeah, that sounds about right."
-
>"Time enough for someone to learn your habits and where things are aboard ship, then."
>"I know you said you hadn't seen anyone out of place in the past couple days, but, what about over the past week?"
>Quick treasure sense sweep of the room.
-
>"Time enough for someone to learn your habits and where things are aboard ship, then."
>"I know you said you hadn't seen anyone out of place in the past couple days, but, what about over the past week?"
>Quick treasure sense sweep of the room.
>She shrugs. "Maybe, I guess."
>"Out of place?" She pauses and frowns, then slowly shakes her head. "Nah, wouldn't say so, really. Don't leave the place unattended when I'm not around."
>You turn your attention towards your treasure sense. You can detect several moderately strong feelings within the general vicinity of the room, and a few others scattered throughout the ship. You think most of the ones close to you are probably precious metals and similar things - possibly a large quantity of coinage? This would hardly be out of place on a trader's ship. Every now and again you think you feel a slight trace of something harder to describe, but it's so vague that you're not even quite sure it's anything more than noise.
-
>Any sense of magic in the air?
-
>Any sense of magic in the air?
>Perhaps a little, but nothing distinct or that calls attention to itself; probably perfectly mundane things like light fixtures or something.
-
Anybody got anything else to ask Murasa before we head out? Drawing a blank at the moment.
-
Well I suppose there is at least ONE thing we can do, just to be thorough.
>Take a minute to douse for any sources of magic that seem like they don't belong.
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>Take a minute to douse for any sources of magic that seem like they don't belong.
>It's rather difficult to determine a sense of unbelonging via this method given that you don't know what passes for normal on this ship, but you decide to take a minute to dowse for magic anyway and see if anything strikes you as somehow odd. You raise your rods and narrow your focus, sweeping slowly across the room and sending your senses past it to the rest of the ship. There is a little magic about, but not an uncommon amount. You grow more certain that some of what you sense are lights, and there's probably a few other minor magical baubles of one sort or another - you cannot determine their purpose this way, but you suspect they're fairly mundane. Nothing seems particularly strong or active, and there are no obvious traces of lingering enchantments in the room. All in all, it seems pretty bland and unremarkable. ...wait, what was that? You squint and shift the rods about. Nothing? Huh.... Was it just background noise or something? You focus harder and shift again. ...no, you think you can still get a slight sense of... something. Maybe. It's very faint and vague, and probably nothing, but it does feel just a little odd. ...and you think it may be close to you.
>"What exactly are you tryin' to do, anyhow?" Murasa asks, looking at you askance.
-
>"Tell ya in a second."
>Focus on that sensation. Details, dowsing powers, details!
-
>"Tell ya in a second."
>Focus on that sensation. Details, dowsing powers, details!
>You brush Murasa off and try to narrow in on that sensation.
>"Hey, it's my ship you're on, remember?" she says. "Mind runnin' whatever tricks you're working on past me first?"
-
>"Dowsing. It's my ability. There's something that doesn't fit in..It's around here somewhere, and I'll find it for sure."
>Focus on finding that thing, and making it known.
-
>"Dowsing. It's my ability. There's something that doesn't fit in..It's around here somewhere, and I'll find it for sure."
>Focus on finding that thing, and making it known.
>"Huh." You absently note Murasa nod as you try to resume your focus.
>"Anythin' I can do to help?" she asks.
-
>"Well, once I get enough focus to lock on to it, whatever I'm after is as good as found. So just sit right back and leave it to the mouse."
>Grin confidently just a bit before resuming focus.
-
>"Well, once I get enough focus to lock on to it, whatever I'm after is as good as found. So just sit right back and leave it to the mouse."
>Grin confidently just a bit before resuming focus.
>Murasa gives you a dubious look. "You think this... whatever-it-is has somethin' to do with that thief?"
-
"Should only take a minute to find out."
-
>"Should only take a minute to find out."
>Murasa lets out a little chuckle. "And I suppose I keep interrupting ya, don't I?"
-
>"I'm not gonna hold your curiousity against ya, captain, I wager you've never seen anyone could do this. But just gimme a minute, and I'll have this sorted out."
>And as the man said before, Grin confidently just a bit before resuming focus.
-
>"I'm not gonna hold your curiousity against ya, captain, I wager you've never seen anyone could do this. But just gimme a minute, and I'll have this sorted out."
>And as the man said before, Grin confidently just a bit before resuming focus.
>Murasa shrugs. "Eh, take your time if ya need it. I need to go check in with Chisato, anyhow."
>She takes a step away, then turns and gives you a look. "And mind everything's still where I left it when I get back, hey?"
-
>Twitch. INTERRUPTIONSinterruptions....
>"Naturally."
>Assuming she lets us NOW, focus on that sensation.
-
>Twitch. INTERRUPTIONSinterruptions....
>"Naturally."
>Assuming she lets us NOW, focus on that sensation.
>You twitch a little despite yourself. Could she interrupt you more times in a row if she tried? ...please don't answer that.
>But you give a nonchalant reply. Murasa gives you a little nod and walks back onto the deck, closing the door to the cabin behind her. Blissfully, she does so without further comment.
>Now to get back to work. You take a moment to regather yourself, then raise your dowsing rods again and attempt to find that curious faint sensation. You feel the other traces of magic in the ship come into focus again as you slowly sweep your rods across the room. Now... where was it....?
>You frown slightly and your brow creases. Is it... gone? You redouble your efforts, tracing the ship with painstaking slowness and paying attention to every minute resonance that your senses can differentiate. For a moment, you think you may have had something, but then you lose it again among the background noise. Your attempt to relocate it is without success; if it even was anything other than proverbial static, it was too little to be of any use.
>You keep this up for a few more minutes, but eventually are forced to grudgingly admit that you're simply not finding whatever it was you caught the first time; whether it's gone or was only a phantom in the first place, you can't be sure.
-
In retrospect, I really should have seen that coming.
>Swear.
>Leave the room.
>Track as we go, though. Just in case this wasn't a complete waste of time, or a figment of our diseased imagination.
-
>Do we know of any thing that could blip out of existence like that after been found?
-
>Swear.
>Leave the room.
>Track as we go, though. Just in case this wasn't a complete waste of time, or a figment of our diseased imagination.
>You let loose some heartfelt invective. After all that?!
>The level of focus required to find something as vague as this is more than you can maintain while usefully moving from one location to another. For one thing, it would be hard to open the door. You could keep a casual scan while exiting, but you doubt that would pick up on whatever that was. If it was even anything at all.
>Do we know of any thing that could blip out of existence like that after been found?
>The sensation was very faint in the first place, so it's hard to say for certain that it blinked out of existence; it may not have been more than background noise. But assuming it was a legitimate magical resonance, there are a number of ways that it might have been there one minute and gone the next. A resonance from an active spell would no longer be detectable once the spell had faded. Objects containing magical energy of one form or another could either expend their charge or go dormant; dormant magical items are sometimes still detectable, but other times not - this depends on the nature of the magic and the object's construction. The source of the resonance might have become masked by some other material or perhaps lost in interference from a stronger source nearby, or possibly moved outside your effective detection range entirely (which would probably be quite short for a signal this slight). There might be other ways this could happen that aren't immediately coming to mind.
-
Would we know if it was coming from Murasa or something on her person?
-
>Or any other member of her crew?
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>Would we know if it was coming from Murasa or something on her person?
>Or any other member of her crew?
>You hadn't gotten a specific positional fix on the signal, but you feel fairly sure it was near to you. You figure this would probably rule out most of crew (unless someone was lurking in the inner room here, perhaps, or immediately below you), but you suppose it's possible it was coming from Murasa somehow. Given that you aren't sure what it was, it's hard to say how plausible this is.
-
>Open the door with our tail, and step outside.
>Try scanning again.
-
>Open the door with our tail, and step outside.
>Try scanning again.
>You open the door with your tail and step outside. As you do, you note that the redhead from earlier has apparently shifted from lounging by the gangway to lounging next to the cabin door, just slightly in the way of the walkway up to the main deck.
>She cocks her head towards you and gives you a look that's rather hard to read. "Goin' somewhere?"
-
>"Trying to help you folks on your way, if I can. I had a lead for a sec, but I lost it. 'f I can get it back, might get us airborne before suppertime."
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>"Trying to help you folks on your way, if I can. I had a lead for a sec, but I lost it. 'f I can get it back, might get us airborne before suppertime."
>"You just stay put 'til the cap'n gets back," she says, a neutral expression on her face.
-
>Look her up and down.
>"Problem?"
-
>Look her up and down.
>"Problem?"
>You give the redhead a once-over. Her build is lithe, but powerful looking, with leanly muscled arms framed by a white tank top. There is a large tattoo in a tribal design stretching from her right shoulder down to her elbow; a wing and propellor motif is prominently featured near its top. She is reclining in a casual pose, with one arm propped against a long wooden pole. The corner of her mouth stretches into a grin as you look her over; there is an almost feral character to it that reminds you distinctly of an oni.
>"Not if you don't start one, there ain't," she responds. Her expression makes you wonder if she'd actually rather you try.
-
>"Hey, I'm just tryin' to help here. You folks got somewhere to be, and you've got a problem, and captain Murasa contracted me to help solve it."
>Are we getting any sort of reaction from our extrasensory perception from this one?
-
>"Hey, I'm just tryin' to help here. You folks got somewhere to be, and you've got a problem, and captain Murasa contracted me to help solve it."
>Are we getting any sort of reaction from our extrasensory perception from this one?
>"And you can keep your ass here 'til she gets back, yeah?"
>As best you can tell at the moment, not in the slightest.
-
>Keep our tone neutral. Not like we haven't dealt with uppidy folks before.
>"You treat every one that tries to help you with such class, or just the Seekers?"
-
>Keep our tone neutral. Not like we haven't dealt with uppidy folks before.
>"You treat every one that tries to help you with such class, or just the Seekers?"
>She shrugs. "Hey, I'm just followin' orders."
-
>"Ah, lemme guess. 'Make sure she doesn't make off with a cabinet or two'?"
>Can we douse for truth in peoples words?
-
>"Ah, lemme guess. 'Make sure she doesn't make off with a cabinet or two'?"
>Can we douse for truth in peoples words?
>"Close enough," she says with a hint of that grin again.
>Unfortunately not - metaphoric concepts are flat-out. Reading tells and other body language is something they try to teach apprentice Seekers, and you're pretty good at it, but mundane methods are all you have to work with at the moment. If this woman is lying, she's doing it quite casually - to be honest, though, she doesn't strike you as especially subtle.
-
>"Well then you can come with me and watch. Because I might just have a trace on something weird and I don't want to lose it."
-
>"Well then you can come with me and watch. Because I might just have a trace on something weird and I don't want to lose it."
>She shakes her head. "Already told ya - either you stay put 'til the cap'n gets back or we're gonna have a problem."
-
>"Weigh it against losing a lead on our bigger problem."
-
I think it would be in character for someone weeks from death to start some shit if she refuses. Shall we start some shit?
-
I think it would be in character for someone weeks from death to start some shit if she refuses. Shall we start some shit?
On the one hand, I see Nazrin as rather pragmatic, the kind of person who doesn't waste time brawling with oafs, even if they're a-wantin' a-whupin'. On the other hand, taking into consideration everything she's been through the past couple days, she's gonna pop sooner or later.
My concern is, how do we think Murasa would take us beating up one of her crewers? Especially if said crewer was working on her orders. And would Nazrin want to jeopardize her ride in this manner? Especially since neither she nor us have any idea what that sensation even was.
-
>"Weigh it against losing a lead on our bigger problem."
>She lets out a wry chuckle. "You don't get it, do ya? If the cap'n says to make sure you stay put, then yer stayin' put if I gotta crack ya upside the head to do it."
>She straightens up against the wall and casually flexes her grip on the pole. "If ya want a splittin' headache to go with the wait, it's no sweat off my back, but you're keepin' your ass where it is."
-
Pragmatism goes right out the window for most folks when someone is telling you to sit there and die for their convenience. Trust me, I've wrestled with US Hospitals when needing life-saving surgery I couldn't afford. You tend not to have a longterm plan outside "X is an obstacle asking me to die. I will reciprocate."
>"Yeah, because I'm going to do all kinds of damage with my scary, scary dowsing rods."
>Wave them in her general direction.
>"WoooOoooOOooo....doooowsing rods..."
-
>"Yeah, because I'm going to do all kinds of damage with my scary, scary dowsing rods."
>Wave them in her general direction.
>"WoooOoooOOooo....doooowsing rods..."
>This draws an actual laugh from her; you don't think it was derisive, but her general attitude makes it a little hard to tell.
>"I don't care whether they're weather vanes or feather dusters you got there," she says with a broad grin. "No one goes wanderin' around the ship without the cap'n's say-so and she ain't said so. You got someplace to be so bad, you can take it up with her."
-
>"Well, she'll be taking it up with you if this lead get lost and the cargo rots more because you wouldn't use your head. What do you think she wants more? Me kept here or that damn pass back? Besides, why would I steal anything? I'm trying to get passage here!"
-
>"Wouldn't just keeping an eye on me satisfy Murasa's orders? I'm not after the secrets of your ship- I don't even know if this ship HAS secrets- I just wanna get to the bottom of this... This... Whatever it is. Which I can't do in this room."
-
>"Well, she'll be taking it up with you if this lead get lost and the cargo rots more because you wouldn't use your head. What do you think she wants more? Me kept here or that damn pass back? Besides, why would I steal anything? I'm trying to get passage here!"
>"Hey, I don't know," she says with a shrug, "and frankly it ain't my job to care. I told ya how things are, and that's all there is to it."
>"Wouldn't just keeping an eye on me satisfy Murasa's orders? I'm not after the secrets of your ship- I don't even know if this ship HAS secrets- I just wanna get to the bottom of this... This... Whatever it is. Which I can't do in this room."
>"Why such a rush, hey? Got somethin' that can't wait for her to get back?" There is a feral glint in her eye.
-
>"Well, that's part of the problem, isn't it? Since I can't figure out exactly WHAT I'm chasing is, I'm not sure if it can wait or not. But I'm pretty sure, whatever it is, it doesn't belong on this ship."
-
>"Well, that's part of the problem, isn't it? Since I can't figure out exactly WHAT I'm chasing is, I'm not sure if it can wait or not. But I'm pretty sure, whatever it is, it doesn't belong on this ship."
>"Tad convenient, ain't it?" she says. "Gotta move quick and can't really say why. Wouldn't be the first person to pull somethin' like that."
>She shrugs. "Maybe you're on the level, and maybe you're not - either way, it ain't my call to make. You're still gonna have to stay put."
-
>"I just said why, I felt something that direction. That's what dowsing does. Besides, if you're so sure you can take me down, then you can stop me if I'm up to anything, right?"
-
>"And just how long is Murasa gonna be gone, anyhow?"
-
>"I just said why, I felt something that direction. That's what dowsing does. Besides, if you're so sure you can take me down, then you can stop me if I'm up to anything, right?"
>She snorts. "Got nothin' to do with that. Cap'n said to keep ya here, so that's what I'm gonna do."
>"And just how long is Murasa gonna be gone, anyhow?"
>"Didn't say," she replies.
-
So, shall we lure her into trying something, then pull the knives? Because at this point, I think there would be a lot of satisfaction to be had via either making her back down or taking some thumbs.
-
So, shall we lure her into trying something, then pull the knives? Because at this point, I think there would be a lot of satisfaction to be had via either making her back down or taking some thumbs.
What is it with you and thumbs?
Regardless, I doubt she's gonna back down. She's acting on captain's orders, and that's an end of it, as far as she's concerned. So that leaves....
Wait a second, roughing her up isn't gonna do us any good. Whether we're delayed by dunking her in an ale barrel, or by depating the issue, we're just as delayed. It may already be too late.
I think it might be time for another approach. If we're stuck here anyway, maybe we should try pumping her for some information, something Murasa might not know. Maybe SHE got on someone's bad side, and that someone's making her crew pay for it.
-
And as Nazrin has seen time and time again, backing down hasn't gotten her anything, either. I mean, I agree with you fully on the logic of the situation, but it largely ignores what Nazrin has been through. It's pretty clear we're not going to win and we're not going to get anywhere, so let's take some thumbs and at least get that much. We've done pretty much nothing but let other people trample on us lately and have gotten squat for it. So let's trample back. At the very least it'll get us a good eulogy from Yuugi, which is a damn sight more than we've gotten anyplace else thus far. If she has information to give, she can gasp it out while begging us to put the knife away.
Edit: Not that I'm opposed to other ideas, but I would think it would have to be something great, given Nazrin is pretty much a prisoner at this point is is being actively prevented from not only advancing the job, but also quitting it entirely. Given literally the only people who have really shown any desire to help are those who are completely unable to help, and that anyone in a position to help has either refused, tried to exploit us, or just not wanted to, Why would Nazrin not want to smash this little wannabe pirate's face in at this point? She's got pretty demonstrably nothing to lose.
Edit edit: In fact, let's take this logic a bit further, because Nazrin would. She has gotten literally no respect from anyone who doesn't know her previously, with one exception. She got none from Cirno. She got none from the farmer whose crop and wagon she saved. She got none from the busybody council member who went on to give Ichirin the third degree behind our back. She got no respect from our own home villagers, who tried to gyp her for saving their lives. She got no respect from the one shyster herbalist who tried to take her money for pisswater. She got no respect from the owner of the wild rose, who did gyp her and terrorized her new friend, and has the gonads to try and report Nazrin for calling her out on it. She got no respect from the archaeology team whose work she took time to advance by showing them the find of the century. And now she gets no respect from Murasa when she tried to help her no money down, and additionally gets no respect from this little buccanette. Did I miss anyone?
She's gotten respect from exactly one person who didn't already know her or she wasn't buying something from. Yuugi. Why did Yuugi respect her? Because she demonstrated that she are not to be messed with. She have not demonstrated this to anyone else, and she has been burned every single time. People on this continent believe Nazrin is a pushover. This is why she is going to have a hard time not beating the shit out of this human anchor and dangling her off the boat, and has every reason to do it. Screw this boat and screw Murasa, she'll get another one.
Edit^3: Okay, forgot about Momoka and Ellen. So we have two people who are grateful we helped them.
-
Just making sure you were finished. :P
To be fair, Honey warmed up to us. And Momoka gave us some props, as well. The shovel youkai seemed to think we were okay. The fellow at the meeting that lent us a horse basically said 'don't worry about it'. And then of course there was Ellen, but she may be an exception, given that she's, well, Ellen.
As for the archaelogy students, I disagree. The two we met were students. We wanted Keine, and they couldn't provide. If anything, it was our fault for not mentioning the severity of our situation to Sasha, that we never got to meet Keine. That might have got her into town, and avoided this current mess entirely. We'll never know.
And.... "It's pretty clear we're not gonna win?" What?
All right, long story short. You're partly right, Nazrin has taken an awful lot of shit from an awful lot of people. You're tired of it, I'm tired of it, pretty sure Nazrin's tired of it, and that probably goes for our fellow Nazrin-questers as well. But you're not entirely right about all of those people, either.
Like you, however, I imagine we're all getting a bit fed up with this missy here. Her thumbs can stay where they are, but if she doesn't give us something, she's going through a wall.
>"Lemme see if I get this straight. Your captain and I come to an agreement, whereby I agree to solve your problem for you, at no charge, no pay, nothing except a ride to where you were going anyway. And now I'm basically a prisoner?"
-
Yeah, I added in Ellen and Momoka. But the general point is, we've been polite, and gotten walked on. We've taken half measures, and gotten pittances. (I'd argue it'd be fully in character to go report the Wild Rose for having smuggler tunnels. Or sneak in and set fire to the basement stocks as a lesson. And as for college kid, he's had time to reconsider. We can probably go back and guilt him. Or beat him. And so on.)
-
Yeah, I added in Ellen and Momoka. But the general point is, we've been polite, and gotten walked on. We've taken half measures, and gotten pittances. (I'd argue it'd be fully in character to go report the Wild Rose for having smuggler tunnels. Or sneak in and set fire to the basement stocks as a lesson. And as for college kid, he's had time to reconsider. We can probably go back and guilt him. Or beat him. And so on.)
PREMPTIVE EDIT
I just noticed that this will be the 1k post for this thread. So, the debate can wait. Priorities, people.
>Squak as Orange pulls us down from the sky and ravishes us.
>Acquire half-celestial template though the power of LOVE.
-
>Don't accept templates; seek out a better system.
Lost track of that. =[ Oh well, more filler for Draco!
-
>Squak as Orange pulls us down from the sky and ravishes us.
>Acquire half-celestial template though the power of LOVE.
>You let out a squeak as Orange pulls you down from the sky and reaffirms the vows you established a few degrees outside of continuity. Which is a neat trick, really, because it means that either she pulled you THROUGH the deck of the ship, or the ship disappeared entirely and oh god you're falling!!
>Unfortunately, you exhausted your supply of LOVE down Orange's throat at the end of the last thread. Besides, if Orange's reaction is any indication, dewy-eyed is a more likely result than angel-winged. Though perhaps you might spend the time between now and your eventual demise in less terror...
>Don't accept templates; seek out a better system.
>You decide to seek out a better system. Beneath the shower of oblivious kisses, you retrieve the grappling hook from your pack and hurl it at the rear rotor axle of a passing skimmer. You hear the grapple catch, and then the rotational action of the axle rapidly hoists you up and away from the abyss. You twist the two of you into a little flip as your near the fan blades and land hard against the deck of the ship, the solid wood comforting against your back. You've barely had time to catch your breath before Orange presses her lips tight against yours.
>"Get a room!" you hear someone yell.