Murasa Quest - Go Get 'em, Captain!

[UnendingEmpire]

>"Let's take a right here. If we still have time left, we can go back here and take the other path."
>Go right.

"Okay~!"  Following you down the path to the right, Kyouko and yourself continue deeper into the Forest of Magic.  Kyouko's attention seems to be back to the trees you two pass.

>Do we know where Alice lives?

You don't even know who Alice is, let alone where she lives.

>Do we know the path to the Hakurei shrine?

The Hakurei Shrine may not be in the Forest of Magic, but you recall seeing it once before.  If you were asked to locate it from the Human Village, you'd have no problem pointing people in the right general direction.

[Failure McFailFace]

>Continue on the path.
>Look for other youkai.
>How much time until sundown?

[UnendingEmpire]

>Continue on the path.

You and Kyouko continue down the path you've chosen.  Why does the entire forest have to look roughly the same?

>Look for other youkai.

You keep an eye open for any other youkai that may happen to be along this path.  Despite your search, though, you can't find any other youkai.

"BLEAH!"  Seems other youkai found you instead.  Turning to face the sudden shout, you find that karakasa who liked hanging out in the graveyard - Kogasa, right? - and Kyouko startled onto her rear.

>How much time until sundown?

Don't confuse the amount of time until sundown with how much time until it gets dark.  The Forest of Magic is naturally dark, even at high noon.  While you'd have about three hours until sundown, the time until it gets too dark to see well in the forest is more like fifty-five minutes.

[Nash Fais]

>"Hey Kyouko, you alright?"
>"Here, let me help you get back up." I gestured my right hand indicating her to grab onto it.

>"Hey, you there, the karakasa, you're Kogasa right?"
>"What are you doing here in this place?"

[UnendingEmpire]

>"Hey Kyouko, you alright?"

"I'm fine, I'm fine," Kyouko beamed.  "She just surprised me is all."

>"Here, let me help you get back up." I gestured my right hand indicating her to grab onto it.

Kyouko takes the hand, and you help her back up to her feet.  Now then, on to the person who did the surprising...

>"Hey, you there, the karakasa, you're Kogasa right?"

"That's me," Kogasa grinned.  "Did I surprise ya?"

>"What are you doing here in this place?"

"Oh, that!"  Shoving the end of her umbrella into the ground, Kogasa angrily started "That shrine maiden came after me again!  I escaped into the forest, and now I'm trying to figure out some way to get back at her!"

[Failure McFailFace]

>"We could help. We're probably going to pass by her shrine anyway. We're searching for a certain tiger youkai's pagoda. We think that the black-white witch might have it."
>Kogasa joins the party, if she chooses to.

[Nash Fais]

>"Oh, and by the way. What's the reason why the red-white came after you?"

[UnendingEmpire]

>"We could help. We're probably going to pass by her shrine anyway. We're searching for a certain tiger youkai's pagoda. We think that the black-white witch might have it."

"I've got this," Kogasa adamantly stated, turning down your offer.

>Kogasa joins the party, if she chooses to.

Seems she's okay on her own.

>"Oh, and by the way. What's the reason why the red-white came after you?"

"Huh?  The red one?  No, no, no, it's that rotten Sanae!  Grrrr, I bet she steals candy from babies and kicks puppies!"  Apparently fed up with you for no real reason or otherwise no longer wanting to hang out, Kogasa storms off into the trees, angrily ranting to herself about how she'll get back at Sanae for all the things she's done.

[Nash Fais]

>Any rumors about Sanae?

>looks at Kyouko "Did you understand what just happened?"

>"Well... I guess we should get going then"

>I wish her luck on her revenge, but it'll probably won't work too well.

>Continue on the path.

[Failure McFailFace]

>How long is this path???
>Examine the ground. There might be leftover mushrooms you missed.
>Total time elapsed since Nazrin's send off
>Time until the inability to see
>Continue to look for youkai. And humans. And a shiny mini-pagoda that shoots curvy lasers. That's our main goal.

[UnendingEmpire]

>Any rumors about Sanae?

Mixed rumors, yes.  Some claim she's the benevolent good-girl type who will unconditionally love and assist the people around her, human or otherwise.  Others claim she's a twisted youkai hunter out only to see others squirm in pain and anguish.  Others still declare that she's just a nerdy little girl from the Outside World, and doesn't really have anything special going for her.

>looks at Kyouko "Did you understand what just happened?"

"Not at all."

>"Well... I guess we should get going then"

"Let's go!"  Kyouko, as always, seems ready and excited to go!

>I wish her luck on her revenge, but it'll probably won't work too well.

While it's true that two wrongs don't make a right, Kogasa seems pretty troubled by Sanae's treatment.  You figure that as with any rule, there are some exceptions.  Who knows?  Maybe you'll meet Kogasa again and get to help her with this revenge of hers.

>Continue on the path.

Leading onward, you and Kyouko continue down the path.

>How long is this path???

Unknown.  With any luck, you should find a house soon enough, though.

>Examine the ground. There might be leftover mushrooms you missed.

None.  Whoever was picking mushrooms sure did a good job of not leaving any behind.

>Total time elapsed since Nazrin's send off

One hour and thirteen minutes.

>Time until the inability to see

54 minutes

>Continue to look for youkai. And humans. And a shiny mini-pagoda that shoots curvy lasers. That's our main goal.

You look around for...well, anything really.  No such luck.  However, a few minutes down the path, you do finally find a house.  A quaint white one, two stories tall, skillfully crafted.  Whoever lives here must be pretty tidy.
Time until inability to see: 50 minutes

[Nash Fais]

>"I guess we went the wrong way."

>"Since we're already here, we might as well ask for directions."

>Approach the house and knock on the door.

[UnendingEmpire]

>"I guess we went the wrong way."

"Did we?" Kyouko asked.

>"Since we're already here, we might as well ask for directions."

Good plan.

>Approach the house and knock on the door.

Stepping up to the house's door, you knock and await an answer.  You're answered by a blonde-haired magician with blue eyes and a matching dress.  Accompanying her is a small doll resting on her shoulder.
"Can I help you?"

[Failure McFailFace]

>"Yes. We're looking for a Jeweled Pagoda that one of the members of the Buddhist temple dropped somewhere. We received a tip off that it is in the Forest of Magic with Marisa."
>"So, do you have any information on this?"
>Check time to darkness
>Recheck inventory
>"We gotta use these items, I don't think Kourindou has any return policy..."

[UnendingEmpire]

>"Yes. We're looking for a Jeweled Pagoda that one of the members of the Buddhist temple dropped somewhere. We received a tip off that it is in the Forest of Magic with Marisa."

"It would be with Marisa, wouldn't it?"  Opening the door, the magician gestures indoors with a "Come in.  My name is Alice Margatroid."

>"So, do you have any information on this?"

"I can't say I do," Alice answered.  "Marisa was just here a minute ago, though.  She seemed irritated about something, but wouldn't say what.  It might have to do with your pagoda."

>Check time to darkness

45 minutes

>Recheck inventory

Murasa's inventory: Anchor | Ladle | 1,000-yen bill x3 | Capsize "Dragging Anchor" | Drowning Sign "Deep Vortex" | Ghost "Sinker Ghost" | Flood "Venus of the Bilge" | Blank card | Large paper bag (contains Digital camera | Boomerang | Megaphone | Dirty magazine)

Kyouko's inventory: Bamboo broom | Green apple x2 | Chocolate bar | Mountain Sign "Long Range Echo" | Piercing Sign "Piercing Circle"

>"We gotta use these items, I don't think Kourindou has any return policy..."

Digital camera | Boomerang | Megaphone | Dirty magazine
Which of these would Alice probably be interested in?

[Failure McFailFace]

Digital camera | Boomerang | Megaphone | Dirty magazine
Which of these would Alice probably be interested in?

A boomerang could prove useful as a ranged melee weapon against attacks.
The camera is for the tengus. Or we can use it to get evidence!
Megaphone: Murder anyone with sound

_{ear blood geysers}

Dirty Magazine: Maybe we could sell it at the Human village?

>Give the boomerang to Alice. She might need some more house protection.
>Note that we have no food.
>Do ghosts and yamabikos need food? Do youkai even need food?

[Nash Fais]

>"Any idea where she could've went?"

>"Can you also point out where Marisa's house is?"

[UnendingEmpire]

Dirty Magazine: Maybe we could sell it at the Human village?

Never forget the second rule of Gensokyo: everybody's gay in Gensokyo

>Give the boomerang to Alice. She might need some more house protection.

You hand Alice the boomerang.  But like any boomerang, it came right back.  Handing you the boomerang, Alice boasted "I don't need protection from something weird like this.  I have dolls to defend me."

>Note that we have no food.

You have no food.  Kyouko's got two apples and a chocolate bar.  But still, that's not gonna amount to much, so...
You bring up the fact that your food supply is...well, kind of not really there.  Alice replies with a long-winded sigh of exasperation, followed by "I don't usually do this, but how about I bake you two some bread for...whatever it is you're doing?"

>Do ghosts and yamabikos need food? Do youkai even need food?

Even if you yourself don't need food, you can still get hunger pains, so it's best to just eat as though you're still alive.  Kyouko, however, does require food to live.

>"Any idea where she could've went?"

"This is Marisa we're talking about.  That idiot could be anywhere by now.  If you hang around the Hakurei Shrine or Scarlet Devil Mansion long enough, she'll show up eventually."

>"Can you also point out where Marisa's house is?"

"I could, but believe me when I say you don't want to be there.  Her house is too messy even for rats."

[Nash Fais]

"I don't usually do this, but how about I bake you two some bread for...whatever it is you're doing?"

>"We appreciate it."

"I could, but believe me when I say you don't want to be there.  Her house is too messy even for rats."

>"We still need to go there though. She could be back there, and besides, it couldn't be THAT messy."

[Oldmansour]

Wasn't it said a while back that we didn't know Alice? In which case, she probably wouldn't know us either, would she? Well, if she does, being polite never hurts.

>"Oh, right. I haven't even introduced myself yet, have I?"
>Stick out hand.
>"Murasa Minamatsu."

[UnendingEmpire]

>"We appreciate it."

"Don't mention it," Alice said.  A quartet of dolls begin converging at a kitchen area.  "It may be a little bit; using magic to bake has only ended in disaster for me.  And seriously, don't mention it.  For the time being, have a seat."  To emphasize her point, Alice seats herself at a table.

>"We still need to go there though. She could be back there, and besides, it couldn't be THAT messy."

"You underestimate Marisa.  Trust me.  But, if you insist."  A duo of dolls gather at the table Alice is sitting at, carrying a thick sheet of parchment and a brush.  Alice unrolled the parchment and began drawing on it.  "I'll give you a map for good measure.  Marisa walks around here a lot, enough so that she's managed to make a road with just her footprints.  If you follow the path away from my house, you'll eventually reach a junction.  Turn right there, then make the second left after that to reach Marisa's house."

>"Oh, right. I haven't even introduced myself yet, have I?"

"No, you haven't."

>Stick out hand.

Keeping one hand on the task of drawing you a map, Alice accepts the hand with her spare one.

>"Murasa Minamatsu."

"A pleasure."

[Nash Fais]

Wasn't it said a while back that we didn't know Alice? In which case, she probably wouldn't know us either, would she? Well, if she does, being polite never hurts.

Whoops, I guess we let that information slip by.  :V

"A pleasure."

>"Likewise"

>"And this here, is Kyouko" points at Kyouko.

>"And you are?"

>"Does Marisa come here often?"

[Oldmansour]

Whoops, I guess we let that information slip by.  :V

It happens easily enough. We know who everyone is, so we sometimes take for granted that they might not.

[UnendingEmpire]

>"Likewise"

It's hard to tell if the expression on Alice's face is happy, amused, or snarky.  Maybe all three?

>"And this here, is Kyouko" points at Kyouko.

"Nice to meetcha," Kyouko chimed in.

"The same," Alice answered to the yamabiko.

>"And you are?"

Check back a few posts.  Alice introduced herself once she let you in.

>"Does Marisa come here often?"

"More often than I'd prefer," Alice confessed.  "It's annoying to have to take inventory of all my things daily just to make sure she didn't steal anything."

Alice's hand then came off the map.  Rolling it back up, Alice handed you the newly-finished map of the Forest of Magic.  "That's the only one you're getting, so don't lose it."
Added to inventory: Map of Forest of Magic

[Nash Fais]

Check back a few posts.  Alice introduced herself once she let you in.

Ehh?? *scrolls back up*  :blush: I guess that one slipped by me.

"That's the only one you're getting, so don't lose it."

>"Thanks"

>Examine map.
>Examine surroundings.

>"Anyone else, besides the witch, that visits you?"

>"What do you think about Marisa?"

[Oldmansour]

>"What do you think about Marisa?"

Would you mind if we phrase that a little bit differently?

>Instead of putting it quite that way, instead:
>Chuckle. "Starting to sound like Marisa's got a bit of trouble making friends around here."
>Quickly, "Unless she IS a friend of yours, of course. Didn't mean to jump ta conclusions like that."

[Nash Fais]

Would you mind if we phrase that a little bit differently?

Sure, go ahead . I'm still kind of inexperienced with these games.

[UnendingEmpire]

>"Thanks"

Alice simply nods in response.

>Examine map.

Bet you weren't expecting and actual map, huh?

>Examine surroundings.

The inside of Alice's house is very neat and tidy.  There are plenty of dolls, four of which are still working on that bread Alice promised.  How do they do that?

>"Anyone else, besides the witch, that visits you?"

"Unfortunately, yes.  Every once in a blue moon, my mother comes by to visit."

>Chuckle. "Starting to sound like Marisa's got a bit of trouble making friends around here."

"On the contrary.  The problem is that she makes them too well even after stealing their things."

>Quickly, "Unless she IS a friend of yours, of course. Didn't mean to jump ta conclusions like that."

"She's not my friend," Alice immediately answered.  "I'm going to get over there and lend a hand with that bread."  With that, Alice quickly got up to her feet and made her way to the quartet of baking dolls.

[Oldmansour]

Sure, go ahead . I'm still kind of inexperienced with these games.

As was I once. But you've done fine so far, if I may say. And do feel free to offer alternatives to any of my posts, as well, if you see the need. I guarantee you, and everyone else watching for that matter, that I'm gonna be wrong more than once.

>Interesting reaction.
>Gauge her level of tsundere-ness. Assuming we're familiar with that type of character.

[UnendingEmpire]

>Interesting reaction.

Quite.

>Gauge her level of tsundere-ness. Assuming we're familiar with that type of character.

You're familiar with the character type.  Judging from the display Alice just put on, you'd rate her tsundere-ness as at least a 6/10.

Sure, go ahead . I'm still kind of inexperienced with these games.

As was I once. But you've done fine so far, if I may say. And do feel free to offer alternatives to any of my posts, as well, if you see the need. I guarantee you, and everyone else watching for that matter, that I'm gonna be wrong more than once.

I'll be honest, I'm also not very experienced with these sorts of games.  This right here is actually my first one ever ^_^;
But yeah, as Namusour said, you're doing pretty well thus far, and even the best of us make mistakes from time to time