Maidens of the Kaleidoscope
~Beyond the Border~ => Rumia's Party Games => Mystia's Stored Games => Topic started by: 日巫子 on January 29, 2012, 11:11:21 PM
-
> You are Sonozaki Meira, currently eight years old. You were born in the village of Mayohiga in the year 102, and have lived here for the entirety of your short life without ever leaving. Well, until now. The year is currently 110.
> Mayohiga was a small village within the secluded mountains of Gensokyo.
> A few days ago, you found a conical hat.
> Yesterday was the first day of summer, and you went back into the forest with the hat. While playing there, you discovered the original owner of the hat, a tanuki girl named Kouyoshi. Upon returning home from the forest, you found that the village was in ruins, on fire, and inhabited by monstrous youkai. Aided by Kouyoshi, you were able to get a katana from your house and flee from the village, but not before discovering that the blame lies in the hands of a kitsune, a rare and powerful youkai. You have resolved to get revenge, but there is the issue of finding somewhere to stay and learning how to fight, first.
> You have travelled with Kouyoshi through the Forest of Magic and met the youkai Rumia. You have travelled with her and Kouyoshi to the Human Village. You have befriended Rumia. You have come across two youkai, one of which knows of someone who may know a thing or two about the kitsune, and you have decided to go looking for them. You have explored the Bamboo Forest. You've started taking lessons from Mokou in using magic. You've gone into the Forest of Magic. You've gone to the shrine and discovered that it was abandoned. You have prepared yourself and headed out on a day trip to the chapel, picking up a kedama after accidentally setting it on fire. When you finally made it to the chapel, meeting three girls named Rika, Marisa, and Shikoba. You've learned the kitsune's weaknesses and have gone out to search for it near the Great Boundary.
> However, you and Kouyoshi were badly beaten and forced to retreat to the Human Village for medical treatment. You have continued your training with Mokou, and have gotten a tour around some areas in Gensokyo. You've reunited with Rumia and have returned to the shrine with her and Kouyoshi to search for a mysterious SHRINE MAIDEN, who may be able to help you defeat the kitsune. Now if only you knew where she was.
> You're currently at the shrine, trying to figure out where the entrance to the basement is. There are some faeries giggling over something in the hallway, and they're taking up a lot of space.
Quests:
> n/a
Inventory:
> Red and white robes (equipped)
> A white kosode with a red pattern on the hems of the sleeves, with a hakama with the same design. Footwear is geta with tabi.
> Red haori (equipped)
> A red haori you wear if it's colder out.
> x1 geometric yukata (dark blue) (unequipped)
> A dark blue yukata with a geometric pattern on it. Made by Keine.
> ?15
> An accumulation of allowance money from the past three weeks.
> Satchel
> Your school bag. You keep your items in here.
> x1 Pack of Crayons
> Contains red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple, pink, brown, black, grey, and white.
> x1 Sketchbook
> Your sketchbook. There are already some drawings in here.
> x1 Net
> A net used to catch bugs, frogs, and the like.
> x1 Basket
> Used for storing said bugs and frogs.
> Blue jacket (unequipped)
> Lent to you by Kouyoshi.
> Katana
> A katana that belonged to your family. Very sharp and taller than you are.
> x2 wind chimes (equipped)
> Pretty wind chimes taken from the abandoned shrine. You're currently wearing them in your hair.
> x1 bed roll
> A sleeping bag borrowed from Mokou.
> x1 first aid kit
> Contains bandages, scissors, and the like.
> Mii
> A kedema. She may or may not eat any food you put in here from now on.
> Frown, and go back to those fairies. "Hey, what're you giggling over?" Are they torturing poor Hourai again?
> error: hourai.png could not be found in this timeframe
> "Heheheh, we found something really cool over here," one of the faeries calls out.
> _
-
>"What'd ya find?" Try to take a peek.
-
>"What'd ya find?" Try to take a peek.
> One faerie in the thick of the crowd raises her hand and waves.
> "C'mere and find out, lazy bones!"
> _
-
>Get over there and look then!
-
>Get over there and look then!
> You head over to the crowd of faeries. A few of them part so that you can get a better look at what they're all looking at.
> Someone is holding a hat in their hands. It's not as much of a hat though as it is a white handkerchief, with one big flap and then two smaller ones. The string holding it together is tied in a knot, as though it was lifted right off someone's head.
> It's a little hard to see all of this, though; everyone keeps reaching out to touch it.
> _
-
"It that the Kitsune's!?"
-
"It that the Kitsune's!?"
> The faerie next to you scowls. "It's obviously a ghostkerchief, numbnuts!"
> _
-
> "Oh." Deflate: we almost got an edge on her.
> "Wait, you stole it from a ghost?"
-
> "Oh." Deflate: we almost got an edge on her.
> "Wait, you stole it from a ghost?"
> You could have held it for ransom.
> The faerie holding the hat shakes her head. "We just found it here. It tingles!"
> _
-
>"Tingles? Lemme have a try!"
>Poke the ghostkerchief!
-
>
Watch as Tingle the "elf" comes out. D: D: D:
-
>"Tingles? Lemme have a try!"
>Poke the ghostkerchief!
> Watch as Tingle the "elf" comes out. D: D: D:
> You reach out and touch the ghostkerchief. You immediately feel as though you've been drenched in cold water after standing outside in a blizzard for three days. You lose all feeling in your hand for a split second.
> You swear you saw something move away out of the corner of your eye. The faeries, however, are oblivious.
> nope
> _
-
"Whoa....Cool!"
>Wonder what happens if someone wears it..?
>"Hey, you think something will happen if someone wears this thing?"
-
"Whoa....Cool!"
>Wonder what happens if someone wears it..?
>"Hey, you think something will happen if someone wears this thing?"
> That was...
> ...awesome!
> You get the bright idea to try wearing it, and get a second opinion from the faeries.
> Everyone stares at you.
> One of them pipes up, "I never thought of that!"
> "I wanna try it on!"
> "No, me!"
> The ghostkerchief is suddenly in danger of leaving your field of vision, as dozens of tiny hands start grabbing at it.
> _
-
> Look where we saw that thing in the corner of our eye.
-
> Look where we saw that thing in the corner of our eye.
> You look to your right, and then behind you. You see nothing but a much less crowded hallway.
> _
-
> Look worriedly at the hat. The Fairies wont break it will they?
-
>They won't if we get it first! Grab it!
-
> Look worriedly at the hat. The Fairies wont break it will they?
>They won't if we get it first! Grab it!
> That's a nice hat, there. It'd be a shame if something happened to it.
> You decide to make a grab for it, before it can be ripped apart. This proves harder than you first thought; faeries have surprisingly strong grips. You soon find yourself trying to tug the ghostkerchief away from dozens of grabby little hands.
> _
-
> Try running with the ghostkerchief and shake the fairies off!
-
> Try running with the ghostkerchief and shake the fairies off!
> You try pulling the ghostkerchief away and running, but the faeries just shout in protest.
> "No waaay!"
> "Quit it!"
> "I want it!"
> You hear Kouyoshi's voice from the doorway. "What's going on in here?"
> _
-
> Let go. No sense in us ripping it apart. "They found a ghostkerchief!"
-
> Let go. No sense in us ripping it apart. "They found a ghostkerchief!"
> You leave the faeries to squabble over the ghostkerchief.
> Kouyoshi steps inside the house and walks over, looking over the faeries' heads in curiosity.
> "You mean what ghosts wear?"
> _
-
> "Yeah!" ... "Where'd you guys get that, anyways?"
> Would Komachi be made that a ghost is missing their ghostkerchief?
-
> "Yeah!" ... "Where'd you guys get that, anyways?"
> Would Komachi be made that a ghost is missing their ghostkerchief?
> The faeries are bickering too loudly to hear you. They all want a piece of the ghostkerchief for themselves.
> You briefly consider how Komachi would feel. You don't know whether or not she'd be mad, or if all ghosts even have this headwear.
> _
-
> ... We're going to have to use our Rabbit Voice, aren't we?
> "HEY! QUIEEEET!" When they calm down. "Where'd you guys find that, anyways?"
-
> ... We're going to have to use our Rabbit Voice, aren't we?
> "HEY! QUIEEEET!" When they calm down. "Where'd you guys find that, anyways?"
> They're just like the rabbits.
> And just as you would yell at the rabbits, you yell at them as loud as you can.
> Your shouting drowns them out, and an awkward silence falls over the shrine. Everyone is staring at you, and it's a little awkward.
> Finally, one of them speaks up.
> "In the shrine."
> _
-
> "Can you show me, please? There might be a hatless ghost there!"
-
> "Can you show me, please? There might be a hatless ghost there!"
> The faeries look at each other wordlessly, and start shuffling down the hall, muttering to themselves. A few of them gesture for you to follow them.
> _
-
>Don't waste time; follow.
-
>Don't waste time; follow.
> Without missing a beat, you follow the faeries down the hall. They lead you through an open door leading into an empty room, where they squeeze to fit in. There's an overhanging light, but nothing else.
> "It's in here!"
> "There's nothing else."
> "Boooring."
> _
-
>"But it's a ghost! Maybe he's hiding!"
>Inspect the room.
-
Close our eyes and try to see the ghost with our soul.
-
>"But it's a ghost! Maybe he's hiding!"
>Inspect the room.
> "There's nowhere to hide!"
> "It's a square room."
> "You can't hide in squares."
> You look around the room. There's nothing here. Some drawers on the wall, maybe, but that's really it.
Close our eyes and try to see the ghost with our soul.
> You close your eyes and focus...
> ...focus...
> You're not getting anything.
> _
-
> Okay, that was a dumb idea, let's just search the drawers. "What if the square was a box? You can hide in a box!"
-
> Okay, that was a dumb idea, let's just search the drawers. "What if the square was a box? You can hide in a box!"
> You push the faeries out of the way and head over to the drawers.
> You open the nearest one. There are folded clothes in here, all of those hakama like the one Kouyoshi pilfered last time. When you open the door, a plume of dust billows out.
> "You can't hide people in boxes," protests a faerie.
> _
-
> Open the other ones, coughing at the dust. "Well why not? Boxes are meant for hiding things in!"
-
> Open the other ones, coughing at the dust. "Well why not? Boxes are meant for hiding things in!"
> You start releasing more dust into the room as you open more boxes, and soon enough faeries are moving out of the room, coughing and whining.
> "No one would want to hide in some dusty box!" a faerie says as the remainders of them move out.
> _
-
> Sneeze, and peer into the boxes and drawers.
> "Hey, have you guys seen any basements?"
-
> Sneeze, and peer into the boxes and drawers.
> "Hey, have you guys seen any basements?"
> This place is a mess!
> You take a look in the drawers. More clothes, some jewelry, hair ribbons, geta...even a festive kimono, although that's definitely too big for you.
> There's another small box in here, tied shut with a length of adhesive bandages.
> One of the last faeries out turns back. "Uh...dunno! Try going under the house?"
> _
-
> "... Kaaay." How unhelpful. Let's take a look in that box! Unwrap the box and open it!
-
> "... Kaaay." How unhelpful. Let's take a look in that box! Unwrap the box and open it!
> Faeries are no help to you.
> You take the box and open it, unraveling the bandages and taking off the lid.
> There are photos in here. Ridged edges, all in sepia or black and white. Around the edges are prayer beads that have fallen between the wads of photos and the sides of the box.
> There are also some letters in here; you can see the edges of envelopes poking out.
> _
-
> Hey, clues! Let's take a look at those pictures and letters!
-
> Hey, clues! Let's take a look at those pictures and letters!
> Now this is a lot of clues.
> You pick up some of the paper. At first glance, you see that some of the photos include the woman you saw in the first photo you found. The letters are all tucked neatly inside their envelopes and unmarked. There are so many, you're not sure which to look at first.
> _
-
> Are there other people in the pictures? Maybe there's someone that's familiar!
-
> Are there other people in the pictures? Maybe there's someone that's familiar!
> You skim through the photos. The occasional picture of the shrine maiden, a lot of boring pictures of the shrine, the shrine maiden with a man you don't recognize...as you go through the photos, they seem to lessen in quality, but also seem to go back in time. The shrine maiden ages down, and an old couple appears, and they too gradually age down.
> The photo at the very bottom of the stack is a picture of what you presume to be the old woman as a younger girl. There's someone else in the photo, but you can only make out a long skirt; the rest of the picture is torn off at that point.
> _
-
> How suspicious! ... But there's a lot of people with long skirts! Lets skim through the letters, now!
-
> How suspicious! ... But there's a lot of people with long skirts! Lets skim through the letters, now!
> You take a look through the letters. There are no dates on them, nor do they have addresses on them. Many of them are completely unintelligible, either from being smudged, or from being ripped, or from being dunked in water, as a few of them seem to look like. One of them even has burn marks. Of the letters that are undamaged, you can't read them at all; it's nothing but kanji. There does seem to be one letter, however, that you can read. It begins with, "Dearest Friend..."
> _
-
>
Read aloud, "Dearest Friend, by the time you read this I will be missing. This is how I think it'll happen: first the gap lady comes in and disappears me, then I'll disappear her. Then the kitsune will come in and the gap lady and I will disappear her multiple times. Love, me. P.S.: Then a little samurai girl will come in and read this letter, and get disappeared by a tanuki."
> Keep reading!
-
> Read aloud, "Dearest Friend, by the time you read this I will be missing. This is how I think it'll happen: first the gap lady comes in and disappears me, then I'll disappear her. Then the kitsune will come in and the gap lady and I will disappear her multiple times. Love, me. P.S.: Then a little samurai girl will come in and read this letter, and get disappeared by a tanuki."
> Keep reading!
> Dearest Friend,
I hope you've been doing well, and eating enough. It's getting a lot colder up here, snowing even, although metaphorically speaking I feel like I'm getting warmer. The baby should be due in a few weeks. Souji's already trying to think of names, but I already have one picked out. That's a secret, though! I will tell you after she's born. I have a feeling she's a girl (shrine maiden's intuition!). Who knows, maybe she and you will be good friends. Maybe you could pass on some of your worldly wisdom to her, haha. I think she could use that. Maybe she won't hate youkai or grow up in fear of them if someone's around to tell her they're not all bad. I don't think she'd take my word for it, because I've killed so many. I can only really teach her how to do her job, and use our magical heirlooms.
Okay, this is too depressing for a letter. I don't know, I guess I'm getting sentimental because I'm about to become a mother. I was kind of hoping that the next time you visited I'd have given birth already. I've been stuck at home for the past nine months and will probably continue to be that way for a while, so it'd be nice to see someone drop by for a change. I never really noticed that before, how no one ever comes here. Well, even if you end up being too busy to come, the shrine won't be lonely for long, or quiet. I can feel the baby kicking me in the stomach as we speak, it's so weird and amazing at the same time. I'm so excited for her to be born.
Best Wishes, Hakurei Tamiko
-
> Woah... Tamiko, huh? Is that the shrine maiden?
> Wait, did we see any baby clothing?
> Look at the beads in the box.
-
> Woah... Tamiko, huh? Is that the shrine maiden?
> Wait, did we see any baby clothing?
> Look at the beads in the box.
> That is probably the mystery shrine maiden you were looking for.
> You don't recall seeing any baby clothing in the drawers, or anywhere you looked, for that matter.
> You take a look at the beads. On closer inspection, it just looks like a prayer bracelet that was undone or fell apart. There's a tassle in there and everything.
> _
-
> Take the box with us, and find Kouyoshi. "Kouyoshi, Kouyoshi! Her name was Tamiko! She was having a baby!"
> Show her the letter!
-
> Take the box with us, and find Kouyoshi. "Kouyoshi, Kouyoshi! Her name was Tamiko! She was having a baby!"
> Show her the letter!
> You run back out into the hall, where Kouyoshi is seated with a gaggle of faeries pinning her tail down to the floor. She and them all look to you in surprise when you come racing down the hall.
> "The shrine maiden?" Kouyoshi takes the letter and scans over it with wide eyes. The faeries around her giggle bemusedly and hang over her shoulders.
> "How long ago was this?" Kouyoshi asks, but she seems to be asking herself more than you.
> _
-
> "Dunno! I wonder who she was writing to... hey, where's Rumia? Did she find the basement?"
-
> "Dunno! I wonder who she was writing to... hey, where's Rumia? Did she find the basement?"
> "Huh...Rumia?" Kouyoshi looks around. "Come to think of it, she didn't follow me in here..."
> _
-
> Look around outside. "Hey, Rumia! Where are you?"
-
> Look around outside. "Hey, Rumia! Where are you?"
> You look out to the front yard. The sun is almost down.
> You call out for Rumia, but you don't see her out here.
> _
-
We can yell louder than that! "RUUMIIAA!"
-
We can yell louder than that! "RUUMIIAA!"
> You call out for her in an even louder voice. Within moments you hear her voice, but from the other side of the shrine.
> "Whaaat?"
> _
-
Rush over!
"I found a letter the shrine maiden was having a baby! Did you find anything?" flap arms. This is exciting!
-
Rush over!
"I found a letter the shrine maiden was having a baby! Did you find anything?" flap arms. This is exciting!
> You run through the shrine in pursuit, shouting out the good news.
> "There was a babyyy?" Rumia calls out again.
> _
-
> Can we see her?
> If not try to find her.
> "Maybe..I hope shes okay!"
> Have we met any babies?
-
> Can we see her?
> If not try to find her.
> "Maybe..I hope shes okay!"
> Have we met any babies?
> You don't see her, so you start walking down the halls in search.
> Hopefully the shrine maiden is still alive, at least. You've never met any babies before, though.
-
> Make our way to the other side where we heard Rumia!
-
> Make our way to the other side where we heard Rumia!
> You head through the shrine and to the back of the shrine. You see Rumia crouched near the deck a little ways away, looking at something.
> "What is it?"
> _
-
> "What is it? Um, well, a baby's a little human, and they grow up and... what're you looking at?"
> Crouch behind her.
-
> Is it a basement(door)?
-
> "What is it? Um, well, a baby's a little human, and they grow up and... what're you looking at?"
> Crouch behind her.
> "Phsaw, I know what babies are." Rumia rolls her eyes. "I think, I found something really weird..."
> You crouch down to see what she's looking at. It's a faint, square-shaped imprint in the dirt.
> Is it a basement(door)?
> You're not sure. If it were a door it'd certainly be big enough for you to crawl through.
> _
-
Try to brush it off.
Did we see any brooms or shovels around?
-
> Feel at the imprint. "Is it a door, you think?"
-
Try to brush it off.
Did we see any brooms or shovels around?
> You brush away some of the dirt. It doesn't feel soft like the rest of the ground.
> You don't see anything of the like around.
> Feel at the imprint. "Is it a door, you think?"
> There's got to be something under here.
> "Yeah. It's square like a door," Rumia says. "Maybe it leads to a food storage."
> _
-
>"Or a basement!"
>Examine the 'door' in detail.
-
Try and see if we can find an edge to pry up.
-
>"Or a basement!"
>Examine the 'door' in detail.
> "Aw..."
> You feel around the square imprint. There's the slightest depression around the edges, but it seems sealed in pretty tight.
Try and see if we can find an edge to pry up.
> You pick around for an edge. A latch, perhaps. However, you are unable to find one.
> _
-
"grr..." rap your knuckles on the 'door' in frustration. Grumble "Stupid door wont open."
Tanukis are good at digging right?
-
"grr..." rap your knuckles on the 'door' in frustration. Grumble "Stupid door wont open."
Tanukis are good at digging right?
> You knock on the imprint. Nothing happens.
> You can't recall if tanuki were particularly good at digging.
> _
-
"Hey Rumia did you see any shovels or brooms or anythings"
-
"Hey Rumia did you see any shovels or brooms or anythings"
> Rumia shakes her head. "Nope."
> _
-
"Lets see if we can find something.."
Didn't we see a shed or something? Go look in it for a shovel or strong stick or something..our sword might work..but it might be bad for it too..
-
"Lets see if we can find something.."
Didn't we see a shed or something? Go look in it for a shovel or strong stick or something..our sword might work..but it might be bad for it too..
> You look around for the shed, and see it a ways away, surrounded by faeries lounging on the roof and basking in the sunset's glow. You head over past them and the glow of their wings, and head through the doors. It's very dark and still smells a bit terrible, which probably explains why you don't see any faeries in here.
> _
-
> Use magic to make a little a little light. Fire magic if we have to.
-
> Use magic to make a little a little light. Fire magic if we have to.
> You conjure up a small flame and illuminate everything within a few feet in front of you. The floor is caked with dust and dirt, settling on the crates that are stacked up around you. This smell is terrible...
> _
-
> Cover our mouth with our sleeve. "Ew, the spoiled food's still here."
> Are there any tools we can use
-
> Cover our mouth with our sleeve. "Ew, the spoiled food's still here."
> Are there any tools we can use
> This place seriously needs to be cleaned out.
> You look around. The closest things to tools that you can see from here are some sticks laying on top of a crate nearby.
> _
-
> Crab walk over there, and grab a stick, before retreating to where Rumia is! "Bleh, the storehouse is so nasty!"
-
> Crab walk over there, and grab a stick, before retreating to where Rumia is! "Bleh, the storehouse is so nasty!"
> You walk over awkwardly, take a stick in an awkward manner, and get out of there.
> Rumia watches you run back over.
> "Is there food in there?" she asks.
> _
-
"ugh..rotten food."
-
"ugh..rotten food."
> Rumia makes a face. "I don't want that."
> _
-
> "Yeah, we can get GOOD food later!" Try to pry the opening, erm, open! With the stick!
-
> "Yeah, we can get GOOD food later!" Try to pry the opening, erm, open! With the stick!
> You're getting kind of hungry, now that you think about it. Oh well, you'll deal with that later.
> You wedge the stick into the depression, and push at it. You feel the stone jiggle a bit, but it doesn't move any more than that. It's pretty heavy.
> _
-
"Rumia, I need help."
-
"Rumia, I need help."
> "Uh...okay?" Rumia scoots away and stands up, rubbing her hands together. She takes a deep breath and puffs out her chest with restored bravado. "Move out of the way!"
> _
-
> "Uh, okay!" Move out of the way!
-
> "Uh, okay!" Move out of the way!
> You move away. Some faeries are already starting to wander nearer, most likely curious.
> Rumia rubs her hands together, and something happens that you can only describe as the shadows in the ground being sucked away. They gather around Rumia's feet in an inky spiral, before seeping across the ground and into the imprint. Rumia waves her fingers at it like a conductor, her face nearly turning red with the effort, before she abruptly claps her hands.
> There is a deafening crack as the stone levels, taking out the portion of the deck it was situated under. Bits of debris rain down on the faeries, who squeal and scatter into the evening shadows like fireflies. Rumia dusts off her dress and leans forward to look into the newly-unearthed square-shaped hole.
> "It's got stairs!" she comments as Kouyoshi comes running around the side of the shrine.
> _
-
>"Woah! Teach me how to do that!"
-
> "... Hey! Why'd you make me go all the way out there to get a stick when you coulda done that before!" Puff up our cheeks.
-
>"Woah! Teach me how to do that!"
> "Uh....I just kind of do it..." Rumia shrugs.
> "... Hey! Why'd you make me go all the way out there to get a stick when you coulda done that before!" Puff up our cheeks.
> You suddenly realize that you went into a smelly storage room for nothing.
> Rumia looks at you with a blank smile on her face.
> "Whuh? I thought you were going to do it yourself?"
> _
-
>"I can't do that."
>"...Maybe I coulda burned it, though."
>Enter!
-
>"I can't do that."
>"...Maybe I coulda burned it, though."
>Enter!
> "That's an idea."
> Rumia turns and approaches Kouyoshi, as you descend down the stairs. It's very dark, but you can feel the wooden stairs creaking under your feet.
> _
-
Light up a little flame. Start humming.
And descend into the ABYSS!
-
Light up a little flame. Start humming.
And descend into the ABYSS!
> You conjure up another flame. It looks like the stairs go down for a while.
> You continue on, down, down the stairs, until the entrance looks like a postage stamp, and then you're surrounded by darkness: night has fallen outside. Ahead of you you see a wooden door.
> _
-
> Examine door.
> Open door.
-
> Examine door.
> Open door.
> It's a wooden door.
> You push it open. It makes an ear-grating squeak against the floor, and you're greeted by a cloud of dust. You just see an empty space beyond you, as far as the flame can light up.
> _
-
> Cough, and wave the dust away before going in and look around.
-
> Cough, and wave the dust away before going in and look around.
> The amount of dust in this place could give Mokou's house a run for her money.
> You continue on. There is dust floating everywhere, but oddly enough, the flame in your hands doesn't explode. You see crates here, but not as many as there were in the storage room, and stacked up neatly against the walls. There's a wine rack to your left. A cobweb in the corner. Is that a mini altar at the other end of the room? At least it doesn't smell bad.
> _
-
> Walk up to the altar and peer at it!
-
> Walk up to the altar and peer at it!
> You head over to the altar. It's as neglected as the rest of this place, probably dedicated to some long-forgotten god or an old family member. It's kind of cold around this shrine, you think; you feel a strange tingling sensation the closer you get to it.
> _
-
> Shiver. It can get drafty down here! Are there scrolls or pictures on the shrine?
-
> Shiver. It can get drafty down here! Are there scrolls or pictures on the shrine?
> You take a closer look at the altar, and see a single photo.
> It's of that shrine maiden, "Tamiko", again.
> _
-
That's not a good sign. But if she's dead..who put up the shrine?
Clean it off anyway, if anyone is a respected ancestor a shrine maiden is.
-
That's not a good sign. But if she's dead..who put up the shrine?
Clean it off anyway, if anyone is a respected ancestor a shrine maiden is.
> One thing's for certain...you are not alone here.
> Haha, you honestly have no idea. You pay respect to the dead anyway by clearing off the dust.
> It turns out this little altar has been set up on a small, square table with a single drawer on it. Aside from that, it looks like the altar was crafted very well.
> _
-
> Open the drawer. Maybe the daughter we heard about left some clues...
-
> Open the drawer. Maybe the daughter we heard about left some clues...
> You pull the drawer open, with some difficulty. It's a bit stuck.
> Something round and wrapped in cloth rolls into view and bounces against the drawer wall facing you. You'd guess that it's the size of the average fist.
> What is this thing?
> _
-
> Pick it up and oncover the cloth.
-
> Pick it up and oncover the cloth.
> This thing is pretty heavy.
> You pull away the cloth to reveal a smooth, black and white orb. It's
> It's really hot, to touch, even through the cloth, you think your hands are burning
> a̸̢̖̟̺ͨ̏́̈̍ͦ͜ͅs̷͙̣̭̫͔͎͔̹͆ͣͩͯ̋ͣ͂̾͝j̥̖̰̤̥̹̹̯͕͂̄̎̇̅̇̎͋̀͞d̨̡͇̣͕͖̜͉̞͚͑̃͜k̥ͤ̈́̉̈́̀̚̕͝l̢̰̻̱͔̫̱̇̄͂ͬͫ;͖̞͙̥̹̮͔̅ͦ̔ͯ̒̀a̴͚͍͎̖͆ͥ̎͋͢ ̯̳̓ͅj̞͓ͬ̀ͧ̌̕͞;ͤ̇͛̋ͬ̽͢҉̣̬͔̟̦̣̹̪͞s̵̶̡͓̝̖̦ͮͯ͆̏ͪ̏̉͌ͅͅl͉̱̰͖͛k̨̫͇̣̮͍̥̗ͥͅd̢͍͎͙̺̓̋ͬͯ̈́͋ͯͮ̀jͯ̔ͤͭͭ̈̾ͮ͏͔̠͖͙f̶̛͎̩̭͔͔̗͒ͯ̒̓ͯ̔̚ͅ;̑̅͂̽͝҉͚͖͈̱̘͉a̼̘̺̱ͪ̆ͦͭ̀ô̧̧͆̒ͩ͏͈ͅl̷̗̤̣̠̣̎ͤ͂̏́w̤̜̬̩ͣͪ̉ͤ̆̃ͯ͊͞j̧̨̰̰̼͚͓̙̹͋̓̏͞ă̯̹̟̟̔ͦͬ̊̊͆ͭ;̪̮̮̘̝ͮͯͧͮ̋̄͒́i̴͔ͥͬ̆͑̒́̓͋̀͝o̫̟̳ͤ̂́̃̈ͦ́s͙̠͍̲̹̟͎̣͔̑͂̏ͤ̾ͭ̚ ̴̢̝̙͖̄̊ͫj͈̥̲̝͕͉͉̘ͩ͂̽̄̌͌̚
> _
-
> "Aah!"
> Drop the orb and blow on our hands!
> What the heck was that?!
-
> "Aah!"
> Drop the orb and blow on our hands!
> What the heck was that?!
> You're surprised the orb doesn't break when you drop, or you would be if you weren't busy trying to cool down your hands.
> The orb sits on the ground, completely unsuspecting and innocent-looking. The cloth has fallen away, revealing the design of a yin-yang symbol. It's just sitting there, all smug.
> Your hands feel as though they're on fire.
> _
-
>When our hands cool off. Stare at the orb.
>Staaaaaaare.
-
>When our hands cool off. Stare at the orb.
>Staaaaaaare.
> You stare at the orb. There is something rather fixating about it, despite how much it has made your hands hurt.
> You don't think your hands are going to stop hurting or cool down any time soon.
> _
-
> This is a test, right? If we can hold onto that thing... uh...
> ... Well, whatever it is, if it's burning us, it must be magic or something, right? If we can hold onto it, then we can... um... do something with it!
> Either way, it's not gonna be smug any more! Pick it up again and hold on!
-
Smile a bit!
I bet the orb is really powerful if it does that to just hold it!
Try to wrap the cloth around it with out touching it.
-
> This is a test, right? If we can hold onto that thing... uh...
> ... Well, whatever it is, if it's burning us, it must be magic or something, right? If we can hold onto it, then we can... um... do something with it!
> Either way, it's not gonna be smug any more! Pick it up again and hold on!
> Things don't just burn people for no reason. This is magic, and you're not going to let it get the best of you.
> You pick the orb up and hold on
> i̅̎̀͗̌̃̂͜͏̭̟̙̺̠̯t̶̝̜̯̜̘̯͖̋͌̐̽̊ͪ͘ͅ ̧͔̖͈͔̺͕ͫͮ͂͆̅͗́͛ͪb̬͇̟̼̏́̽͋͂ͭ̿͠ͅu̧̫̩̪̗͍̫̍̂̄̓̽̄͗̒͠ŗ̛͎͙͍͔͓̍̑ͭ͘n̨͇̩̫̣̺̺ͣ͡ṣ̗͌͆͛̌̆̽̅̀͒̀͡ ̧̻̺͕̳͎̰͐̋ͪ́͂͊̽͐͟ǐ͌̊̑̎ͤ͒͝҉̳͉̀t̢͖̦̪̳͐ͬ͊̚ ̞͚̟̺͉̤͖̟͈̾̌͐͒̽͞b̷̰ͫͧ̈́́͝u̱͚͇̜͍̤̘͔͌͊̿ͧͣͣr͍͋͐́ͅn̳͓͎̟̠͖̗͕̏ͯ̑̓ͯ̊ͮ̕s̤̹̼̥̲̟̭ͪ̀͟ ̨̩͇̲̺̺̂̓ͥ͛̆͌̚͟ͅi̭̹̠̩̘ͪt̨̛̛̤͛͆̋ ̷̶͓̮̼̺͓́ͧ͊͒ͬ̒͌͝b̸͕͇̬͈͙͗́͒͟uͦͨ̿̑ͦͯ̿҉͙̼̞͈͘rͦ̆̽̒͏̵̥͇̟̲n͔̦͔͚͒̒ͬ̅̃͂ͥͧͯs̳̬̥̣͑͆ͪ͌ͣͮͯ͐ ̷̛͎̥̝͚̫͎̘̼̐̉̏̏ͬį̴̳ͩͥt̢̛̼͚͊͛̇ ̡̛͉̳̘̲̘͚͔̔ͫ̓ͣ͌̍ͤb̶̗̻̥͆̅͐̓͐ͪ̂͢u̫̻̾̀̇̋̽ͣr͇̤͔͈ͨ̃ͯ̽̈́n̳͕͇̙͚̫̾̇̊̂͛ͫ͋̚͝s̐̏̎̅̉̆̓҉̲͉̤̟̝̩̺ ̸̧̛̰̗͚̪͛̈́ͭͬ̄ͪͧḯͪ͂̓̉ͬ͏̛̗͈͉͓t̙͖̳ͣ͌̌ ̸͚͕̦͇̪̈̇b̭̪ͣ̿͐̎ͯ̊u̻ͪ̆ͤ̈́̎̾͟͟r̵̬͉̬̩̰̘̖̂̊ͥͧͧͥ̈́͜ͅṋ̢̢͔̻͖̹̑̽́̀̓̅͒̚s͍͚ͦͦͭ̄͋͌͟ ̴̆̉̃͐͋ͮ́͛҉͈̯̩͎̜͉̳̤͞ǐ̸̠͙͙̙̺̙͆̃ͨ͛͝t̪̰̙̮͓̺̹̎ͥͯ̏̌ͭ͗̉ ̴̯̬͋̒̾̔̋͂̆ͧb̭͉̽̓ͬư̘̮͉͍̦̭͑ͭ̒̎̽̎͊ͤŕ̵̘̙͔̌ͥ́n͚͔̭̫͍͗͆͑͛̿̕͡š̵̳̯͚̲̺̦̥͒ͧ͟͡
> It
> hurts
Smile a bit!
I bet the orb is really powerful if it does that to just hold it!
Try to wrap the cloth around it with out touching it.
> You manage a pained smile, and try to wrap it up.
> Your hands hurt so badly ÿ̹̝̫̪̮̖ͭ̈͂̐̽̓o̶̟͈͋͗̍͒͛u͉͙̼ͧͪ̂ͩ ̷̙͇͚͍ͬ̃̔͑̒̈́̿c͇͔̮͎̣̫a̙̖̝̝̳̺̼ͫͣ̓̔̈n̴͓͕͎̤͕͐̐ͣ̍͊ͧ̚'̼͎̙̠̒͑́ͨͣ̂̈tͬ̔̄ͤͧ͢ͅ ͐ͮ̄̿ͩ҉̗̺͚̬̭ͅe̹͓̠͎̱͘v̶̈͊̃̅e͐͏͇͕̜n̝ͦ̓͑͢ ̪̜͍͐̾f͍̰̓͛ͅeͦ͑̓ͯ̂e͖̬̤ͭͫͩ̍̉̇͜l̰̠͖̠͕͇̆ ̣͙̘ͯͭ̔ͪͪi̩̤͕̞̺ͬ̚t̹̪͍̲̗̮̀̆
> The ball tumbles out of your hands and onto the floor again, as your hands sear in pain. They're not even on fire, but they are already red, blisters crawling across your skin.
> _
-
>If we had that kind of power, that kitsune would be no match for us!
>Go for the orb again. We won't let it get the better of us!
-
>If we had that kind of power, that kitsune would be no match for us!
>Go for the orb again. We won't let it get the better of us!
> You reach for the orb.
> Some of the blisters on your hands break, somehow adding to the already unbearable pain. It really, really, hurts...
> _
-
>Endure it!
-
> Nonononono panic and drop it and stumble back ow ow ow ow
-
>Endure it!
> Nonononono panic and drop it and stumble back ow ow ow ow
> You try to hold on, but you quickly give in to the pain. You feel a little dizzy from the pain.
> _
-
> Okay enough pain for now..we need to find something to carry it with.
-
> Okay enough pain for now..we need to find something to carry it with.
> You figure you should find something to put between you and this orb, but what will you use?
> _
-
>Find the closest thing to a stupidly thick cloth or a basket.
>Could we balance it on the end of a stick or something?
-
>Find the closest thing to a stupidly thick cloth or a basket.
>Could we balance it on the end of a stick or something?
> You grab the cloth the orb was wrapped up in originally.
> There's no way you could balance that thing on a stick, it's way too big.
> _
-
A bucket..we need a bucket. Maybe Rumia or kuyoshi have seen one?
Go back up, the orb shouldn't be going anywhere.
"Rumia? You still here?"
-
>Add Quest: find wild Kisume for storage needs.
>"I found something, like, really hot!"
>Show them the 'proof' with one of our hands.
>Do we think it'd be safe to stash the orb now? When it's wrapped up?
-
A bucket..we need a bucket. Maybe Rumia or kuyoshi have seen one?
Go back up, the orb shouldn't be going anywhere.
"Rumia? You still here?"
> You should probably find a container to put this in.
> You head back up the stairs and call out for Rumia, and are almost shocked at how strained your voice sounds.
> Rumia and Kouyoshi are still at the top of the stairs, along with a small crowd of faeries. Rumia crawls over from where she's sitting, grinning from ear to ear.
> "Did you find any preserved food down there?"
>Add Quest: find wild Kisume for storage needs.
>"I found something, like, really hot!"
>Show them the 'proof' with one of our hands.
>Do we think it'd be safe to stash the orb now? When it's wrapped up?
> error: kisume.jpg cannot be found in this server
> "Something hot? Like, like cooked meat--" Rumia starts to say, but she cuts herself off when you hold up your hands. More than a few faeries squawk in disgust, and you think you hear one of them say "I'm gonna be sick!". Kouyoshi looks horrified.
> It didn't seem to be burning anything else, so long as your skin doesn't touch it.
> Kouyoshi nudges a faerie off her lap and scoots over next to Rumia. She takes your arm, gingerly, and inspects your hand.
> "What happened to your hand?"
> _
-
>"This weird orb thing burned 'em! I left it down there though."
>Point back towards where the orb is.
-
>"This weird orb thing burned 'em! I left it down there though."
>Point back towards where the orb is.
> Everyone looks back to the entrance of the basement.
> "Was it on fire?" Kouyoshi asks.
> "I don't smell any smoke," a faerie pipes up.
> _
-
> "No! It was just a weird ball that was black and white and-" Okay OW this is starting to hurt.
-
> "No! It was just a weird ball that was black and white and-" Okay OW this is starting to hurt.
> You start to explain otherwise, but the reality of how much this actually hurts is setting in. Now that you're out of the gloom, the extent of the burns are more clearly visible: the reddened skin, the ruptured, bleeding blisters.
> "You still have that first aid kit with you, right?" Kouyoshi asks.
> "No, silly, you need water," says Rumia. The faeries start clamoring.
> "She's infected!"
> "Contagious!"
> "--it's gangrene--"
> "--dummy--"
> "--it's a burn--"
> "--that looks sooo painful! Sucks to be you--"
> "--blood! Blood!--"
> _
-
> "You guys aren't helping!"
> Back to Kouyoshi. "Um, yeah, in my satchel..."
-
> "You guys aren't helping!"
> Back to Kouyoshi. "Um, yeah, in my satchel..."
> The faeries don't hear you.
> "Okay." Kouyoshi takes it from you and starts rumaging around.
> Rumia stands up and starts off sprinting.
> "I'm gonna get water!"
> _
-
> "Thanks, Rumia!" Turn back to Kouyoshi. "But anyways there's a shrine down there, and I found that burning orb thing! Oh, and, uh, there was a shrine to Tamiko."
> That's pretty sad.
-
> "Thanks, Rumia!" Turn back to Kouyoshi. "But anyways there's a shrine down there, and I found that burning orb thing! Oh, and, uh, there was a shrine to Tamiko."
> That's pretty sad.
> Rumia spares you one last wave.
> You tell Kouyoshi about the shrine and the orb. Her ears droop a little.
> "Oh. A shrine to honor the dead?"
> _
-
"Yeah...but some one had to put it up!"
-
"Yeah...but some one had to put it up!"
> "Huh..." Kouyoshi frowns a bit. "If someone has time to put up an altar why don't they clean the rest of the shrine, too?"
> _
-
"Well..it was all dusty, so maybe they moved?"
-
"Well..it was all dusty, so maybe they moved?"
> "I guess so..."
> Out of the corner of your eye, you see Rumia skipping over to the pond, bucket in hand and followed by a half a dozen faeries. She stoops down to fill it up with water, before heading back over.
> Water slops out of the sides as she drops the bucket down in front of you.
> "I got water!"
> _
-
> Wait for Kouyoshi to treat our hands.
-
> Wait for Kouyoshi to treat our hands.
> You wait patiently as Kouyoshi picks a roll of bandages out of the first aid kit, unravelling a good length of it before tearing it off. Rumia and the faeries watch as she pulls the bucket over and takes your hands, dipping them into the water.
> It feels surprisingly cool, but it's not long before Kouyoshi takes them out again and starts wrapping the bandage around them. The glow of the faeries' wings act almost as lamps in the darkness of the starry night sky, and soon enough, your hands are bandaged. You still have full mobility of them, as Kouyoshi has bothered to go around your fingers rather than taping them all together.
> _
-
> Wriggle our fingers. "Thanks, guys! Anyways, I gotta show you!" Run down the stairs to the basement!
-
> Wriggle our fingers. "Thanks, guys! Anyways, I gotta show you!" Run down the stairs to the basement!
> It still hurts, but you should be fine now with these bandages.
> You head back down the stairs and into the open room with the altar. The orb is right where you left it.
> You hear chattering behind you; some faeries have followed you into the basement. You hear more footsteps coming down the stairs.
> _
-
> Point at the orb. "See, that's what burned me! Don't touch it!"
-
> Point at the orb. "See, that's what burned me! Don't touch it!"
> The faeries ignore you, mostly, and float over to get a closer look at the orb.
> "--cooool!--"
> "--whoa that's weird--"
> "--it smells good--"
> "--wild cherry apeshit apocalypse--"
> "--no, more like roasted marshmellows--"
> "--orbs don't smell like anything you numbnuts--"
> "--ouch! It burned me!"
> One faerie yanks her hand away from the orb, tears in her eyes. You think she was one of the first three faeries you saw in the forest earlier--the one with the twin tails--but there are so many around now that you're not sure. As the faeries closest to her start to draw nearer to her, you see Kouyoshi walk around the group of faeries from the corner of your eye, trying to get a better look.
> _
-
>If we had an uninjured hand, we'd be facepalming.
-
>If we had an uninjured hand, we'd be facepalming.
> She shouldn't have touched that orb, but it doesn't look as bad as your hands did, at least.
> _
-
> "Hey, Kouyoshi, Kouyoshi! What do you think it is?"
-
> "Hey, Kouyoshi, Kouyoshi! What do you think it is?"
> Kouyoshi makes her way through the crowd of faeries to get a good look at the orb.
> "I have no idea. I've never seen anything like this before." She pauses. "Maybe the faeries were right and it's a magical artifact."
> "Told ya so!" calls out one of them.
> _
-
"I think so! I bet we can use this to beat the Kitsune!"
-
"I think so! I bet we can use this to beat the Kitsune!"
> "How are you going to use it when you can't even pick it up without getting burned?"
> _
-
"Uhh...well that just means we need to learn how! I bet there is a scroll on it somewhere in there.."
-
"Uhh...well that just means we need to learn how! I bet there is a scroll on it somewhere in there.."
> "Did you see any scrolls in here?"
> _
-
>"I'm sure there has to be some means of learning how to use it properly.. It's a little stupid if somebody makes something and doesn't document how to use it. People forget."
-
>"I'm sure there has to be some means of learning how to use it properly.. It's a little stupid if somebody makes something and doesn't document how to use it. People forget."
> "People don't always write down the instructions," Kouyoshi says. "Like magicians, who learn stuff by heart, and way back before there was paper...whenever that was."
> _
-
"Well then we will have to learn it by HEART TOO! We have heart after all!"
Wait that's not what she meant is it..
-
"Well then we will have to learn it by HEART TOO! We have heart after all!"
Wait that's not what she meant is it..
> Kouyoshi raises an eyebrow. "That's an idea, I guess..."
> _
-
> "Either that, or we could trick the kitsune into eating it. I bet after she gets a really bad stomach ache she'll be really easy to beat!"
> Poke around the boxes down here. Any baskets or heavy blankets?
-
> "Either that, or we could trick the kitsune into eating it. I bet after she gets a really bad stomach ache she'll be really easy to beat!"
> Poke around the boxes down here. Any baskets or heavy blankets?
> You figure you could get the kitsune to swallow it. If it doesn't burn her throat up, it'll burn her stomach.
> You poke around the boxes, but a lot of them are sealed tight. The ones that aren't don't have anything you could really use, unless you want to lumber around with a salad bowl. There don't seem to be any blankets or anything you could use.
> "What are you looking for?" Kouyoshi asks.
> _
-
>Hang on...
>"...I just had an idea! Maybe if we throw it at her, it'll hurt her a lot?"
-
> "And I was looking around for a basket or a blanket or something, so we can carry it... Hey! Do you think Keine might know what it is?"
-
> "And I was looking around for a basket or a blanket or something, so we can carry it... Hey! Do you think Keine might know what it is?"
> "Uh..." Kouyoshi points to the things you're carrying on your back. "You still have your bedroll, don't you? And it would probably be a good idea to ask her."
> _
-
> ... Oh. Take off the bedroll and try to wrap the orb up in it.
> "Right! Let's take it to her!"
-
> ... Oh. Take off the bedroll and try to wrap the orb up in it.
> "Right! Let's take it to her!"
> You suddenly remember that you had your bedroll with you, and use that to wrap up the orb.
> Thank whatever god you worship, it didn't burn you.
> Obtained: x1 black and white orb
> "Will she be awake at this time?" Kouyoshi asks as she makes for the staircase. "Humans usually get tired at night."
> _
-
"We can sleep when we get there!" start marching off, say bye to the fairies. "Rumia, you want to learn to be awesome with us?"
-
"We can sleep when we get there!" start marching off, say bye to the fairies. "Rumia, you want to learn to be awesome with us?"
> You wave to the faeries as you head back up the stairs, and then call out to Rumia. She smiles blankly for a little bit, before saying,
> "I'm already awesome! Well, sort of."
> _
-
> "Then come on! We're gonna learn how to beat a kitsune! And maybe have some fried tofu, I dunno."
-
> "Then come on! We're gonna learn how to beat a kitsune! And maybe have some fried tofu, I dunno."
> "Yes!" Rumia turns and starts following you and Kouyoshi out of the basement. The faeries, in the meantime, have gotten to rumaging through the crates, offering prayers to the altar, and taking bottles from the wine rack.
> _
-
Yay for robbing Reimu! \o/
> To Keine's house! How late is it, anyways?
-
> To Keine's house! How late is it, anyways?
> The three of you head out of the shrine basement, and then away from it as you start walking back to the Human Village.
> It's almost completely dark outside; only the light of the waning gibbous and the receding glow of the faeries' wings are luminous. Rumia and Kouyoshi, however, don't seem to be as affected by the dark.
> It's probably very late at night by now.
> _
-
> Welll... Keine was out all night, so she's gotta still be up! Let's mosey! Hum while going along!
-
> Welll... Keine was out all night, so she's gotta still be up! Let's mosey! Hum while going along!
> The three of you continue on, down the path leading away from the shrine and into the woods. You hum a tune as you go along, which helps drown out the distant howling and other strange noises in the forest, at least.
> Before you know it, you can see the Human Village beneath the moonlight again. Not a single light is on.
> _
-
"Kuyoshi, do you think its going to rain?" feel the ground, would our sleeping roll keep us warm if we sleep out side?
-
"Kuyoshi, do you think its going to rain?" feel the ground, would our sleeping roll keep us warm if we sleep out side?
> Kouyoshi shakes her head. "No, it doesn't look like there are any clouds out."
> You kneel down to feel the grass. It's dry.
> You don't know how comfortable you'd be sleeping out in the open like this, or whether you'd be warm.
> _
-
"Lets go find Kiene's House."
-
"Lets go find Kiene's House."
> "We just need to go to the schoolhouse, don't weee?" Rumia asks as she twirls around on one foot.
> _
-
"Yep, I just want somewhere warm to sleep." how tired are we?
-
"Yep, I just want somewhere warm to sleep." how tired are we?
> Now that you think of it, you're very tired. You haven't slept in a while, you don't think.
> _
-
Yawn. "Moku slept out side.." Find the school house, and let our self in if it's unlocked. Other wise bang on it.
-
Yawn. "Moku slept out side.." Find the school house, and let our self in if it's unlocked. Other wise bang on it.
> You recall that Mokou slept outside before.
> The three of you head into the village. The streets are empty and dark, with not even a street lamp alight. You hear a dog barking off in the distance somewhere, its call echoing in the silence. Oddly enough, the gates are still open when you reach the schoolhouse, and when you test the door, it's unlocked.
> Rumia and Kouyoshi follow you in and look around through the gloom.
> "Maybe she's asleep," Kouyoshi guesses.
> _
-
>Call quietly, so as to alert anybody awake, but not to rouse any sleepers. "Is anybody here? Awake?"
-
>Call quietly, so as to alert anybody awake, but not to rouse any sleepers. "Is anybody here? Awake?"
> You hesitantly call out, but no one answers you.
> _
-
>Whisper to Kouyoshi and Rumia "Yep, I guess either nobody's here or everybody's asleep. Come on."
-
>Whisper to Kouyoshi and Rumia "Yep, I guess either nobody's here or everybody's asleep. Come on."
> Kouyoshi and Rumia look at each other.
> "Ok!" Rumia half-whispers, a huge grin on her face.
> _
-
> Mosey on bed-ward!
-
> Mosey on bed-ward!
> The three of you head on upstairs and back to the living room. It's completely dark, and there doesn't seem to be anyone in here.
> _
-
> Yawn. "Ugh... hey Kouyoshi, Kouyoshi... I'm pretty tired. I'm gonna take a nap, 'kay?"
-
> Yawn. "Ugh... hey Kouyoshi, Kouyoshi... I'm pretty tired. I'm gonna take a nap, 'kay?"
> You're more tired than you thought.
> "Ok." Kouyoshi nods. "It's pretty late, anyhow."
> _
-
"Right I guess not a naaaaa*yawn*aap."
Go to/set up futon.
Sleep.
-
"Right I guess not a naaaaa*yawn*aap."
Go to/set up futon.
Sleep.
> You fumble around in the dark, setting up the futon. As you do so, you hear Rumia pattering off, and Kouyoshi saying something to her, but you're already underneath the covers before you can care what dialogue they're exchanging.
> ...
> White on all sides, pure, fluffy white. It's like snow, and takes you a bit to realize that it's just your wings. You're always so disoriented after waking up here. Although, if you look closely, you can see the faint images moving on each individual feather, and it makes you feel soothed and a bit excited. You watch as feathers molt ceaselessly, although new ones are always coming about. There's one right on your hair. Let's see...
> Oh, it's a continuation from the last feather you looked at. There's some woman you don't recognize, or maybe you saw her somewhere else. She always appears literally out of thin air...
> And it's all blurry again. You get the feeling that it's kind of a waste of a feather.
> _
-
feathers are pretty...
-
> Focus our sight on that woman. Do we remember her?
-
feathers are pretty...
> You can't fall asleep in a dream, now can you...?
> Focus our sight on that woman. Do we remember her?
> You don't believe you were ever introduced to her. You believe you were separated from her by two degrees at least, maybe three, which you find odd. Very pretty blonde hair, reminds you of someone you know...
> You watch the feather on repeat. She just kind of steps down onto the ground. It's a windy day.
> You suddenly wonder how chickens would be fed so quickly, when there are so many in the hen houses. You'd need some sort of contraption to get all the food to them...
> _
-
> Couldn't we just put the feed in a trough or something? It'd be more convenient than making up something new.
> Do we know who or what the degrees connecting us to the blonde woman are?
> Stroke loose feathers out of our wings, and collect them in a neat pile.
-
> Couldn't we just put the feed in a trough or something? It'd be more convenient than making up something new.
> Do we know who or what the degrees connecting us to the blonde woman are?
> Stroke loose feathers out of our wings, and collect them in a neat pile.
> That would take too long, which is why you wanted to come up with...
> This is too much work...
> You know, your friend knows her, or your other friend knows her subordinate. You think.
> The feathers gather in a pile on your lap, the images in them moving smoothly like water along the tips of the feathers. It's so soft, like a nice pillow.
> _
-
Maybe we should make a dream catcher with them!
-
A massive dream catcher, at that!
-
Maybe we should make a dream catcher with them!
A massive dream catcher, at that!
> Hm...that would be fitting of these, but...there's no wood.
> _
-
What did we build our chicken coup out of?
-
What did we build our chicken coup out of?
> Wasn't your...chicken coop...
> _
-
Hmmm..is there any bamboo any where? Make sure to bring a knife to cut it with!
-
Hmmm..is there any bamboo any where? Make sure to bring a knife to cut it with!
> Nothing but feathers...and there's another one...
> It is quite a nice feather. That woman is there again...
> _
-
> Oh, is she? What's she doing this time?
> Can we find all of the feathers with the woman?
-
> Fondly regard feathers.
-
Think about our sister.
-
> Oh, is she? What's she doing this time?
> Can we find all of the feathers with the woman?
> Hm...she's...she's standing between a younger girl and a ghost.
> Yes, that is a ghost. And the girl is a shrine maiden. That is an impressive ghost.
> There is no way you could possibly organize any of these feathers in a coherent manner. That is simply impossible.
> Fondly regard feathers.
Think about our sister.
> So many feathers, like snow...
> Oh, that's silly, you were always an only child
> and adopted
> it never bothers
> you
> _
-
> Stack feathers on top of them and flip through them, like one of those flip book animations.
> Who adopted us?
-
>And for that matter, who are we?
-
I'm randomly reminded of Zork, and how when you type "examine self" it gives you "That would be difficult unless your eyes are prehensile."
-
> Stack feathers on top of them and flip through them, like one of those flip book animations.
> Who adopted us?
> The feathers amuse you. They can pile up like snowdrift, and when you leaf through them, they blur together...so beautiful.
> Of course, that was a long time ago...they were good to you, like real parents should be...
>And for that matter, who are we?
> Oh, that is quite obvious...who you are...
> Perhaps in a hallucination or a trick of the whirling feathers, you continue to see the feathers more clearly. The woman with the golden hair, always with a shrine maiden. The ghost woman, here and there but sometimes on a tank...you wouldn't have expected to see those in this place, or where the shrine maiden was...the shrine was always kind of desolate-looking...
> It's so odd...
> ...
> _
-
> A tank? that is odd.
> Arrange the feathers in lines.
-
> A tank? that is odd.
> Arrange the feathers in lines.
> Oh my, they are so familiar to you...
> This action doesn't really have any meaning, but you don't care.
> _
-
> Is there anybody nearby who looks like they may like feathers too?
-
> Is there anybody nearby who looks like they may like feathers too?
> You're alone...
> ...
> ...
> Agh, it's bright out.
> _
-
Get a hat, for the light.
-
Get a hat, for the light.
> You're pretty sure you've never owned a hat, and wearing Kouyoshi's for a day doesn't count.
> _
-
Try and wrap our wings around our face.
-
Try and wrap our wings around our face.
> You don't have wings. That was just some dream.
> _
-
Blink.
Blink.
Wake up.
Sit up. Look around.
Rub our eyes.
-
Blink.
Blink.
Wake up.
Sit up. Look around.
Rub our eyes.
> Oh.
> You're already awake.
> You sit up and see that Kouyoshi is curled up on the floor, a few feet away from you, with her hat over her face. On the table nearby is a tray with a bowl of...something...a cup of tea, and what looks like some cooked fish, as well as a note. Rumia is nowhere in sight.
> _
-
>Let's look at the note!
-
>Let's look at the note!
> You take a look at the letter.
> Meira -
I would appreciate that you don't bring Rumia into the schoolhouse without any forewarning or asking me beforehand.
- Keine
> _
-
"err..that's weird, but okay." Look at the food some more. Is it meant for Kouyoshi or us?
Stand up.
We need to draw that dream!
-
"err..that's weird, but okay." Look at the food some more. Is it meant for Kouyoshi or us?
Stand up.
We need to draw that dream!
> Then again, this isn't even your house.
> You're not sure who this food is intended for, but given that the note was practically on the tray, it's probably for you. On further inspection, however, you notice that is miso soup in the bowl. It still looks warm.
> You stand up from the table, suddenly feeling compelled to draw last night's dream. Your sketchbook is still in your bag, if you remember correctly.
> _
-
> Quickly retrieve sketchbook from bag.
> Draw and fire! Show Snake why we're called "Revolver"! the dream.
-
> Quickly retrieve sketchbook from bag.
> Draw and fire! Show Snake why we're called "Revolver"! the dream.
> You go back to your things and retrieve the sketchbook and crayons.
> You draw as much of the dream as you remember, which turns out something like a pair of white-sleeved hands, holding a pile of feathers. You draw the wings, too, although you can't draw the scenes happening on them. Those were too detailed...
> _
-
try and at least draw the blond lady. Have we ever seen anyone with blond hair?
Dreams within a dream would be double important.
-
try and at least draw the blond lady. Have we ever seen anyone with blond hair?
Dreams within a dream would be double important.
> You've never seen anyone with blonde hair in real life before, so drawing the woman with blonde hair feels a little weird. She dresses nicely, though. Carries a parasol, too, if you remember correctly...
> You wonder if you saw a dream within a dream. It didn't feel like that, though.
> _
-
mumble "Maybe more of a vision..what do you call seeing people in flowers?"
Try and draw anything else important from the 'visions'.
Oh and draw frogy, he helps dreams!
After drawing eat the soup and other food and then search the house for Keine or Rumia.
-
mumble "Maybe more of a vision..what do you call seeing people in flowers?"
Try and draw anything else important from the 'visions'.
Oh and draw frogy, he helps dreams!
After drawing eat the soup and other food and then search the house for Keine or Rumia.
> You never saw any flowers in your dream...but you wouldn't know what to call it either way.
> You draw as much as you can remember, including the woman who was most certainly a ghost. Once you finish, you draw the Frog for good luck and head over to eat the food set out. It's kind of lukewarm, but it tastes good, at least.
> You leave Kouyoshi to sleep and wander out of the room and through the halls in search of Keine or Rumia. You check all of the rooms on the second floor, but neither of them are to be found.
> _
-
> Check the rooms on the first floor. How are our hands, by the way?
-
> Check the rooms on the first floor. How are our hands, by the way?
> You wander downstairs, and start checking the classrooms. So far, so empty.
> You take a look at your hands. The burn wounds are still visible and sting a little, and you get the feeling that they're going to scar.
> As you're opening doors, you think you hear some shuffling down the hallway, in a further room.
> _
-
>
Is Keine always shufflin'?
> Go down to the room and open it!
-
> Is Keine always shufflin'?
> Go down to the room and open it!
> NO
> You head over to the room and peek through the door.
> You see Keine in there, pushing tables up against the walls, broom in hand. She looks like she's doing some summer cleaning.
> _
-
"Good Morning! Can I help?"
Be excited, cleaning isn't exciting but..
Start helping if possible. And then ambush her! Start talking fast, so excited,
"Hey, Keine, do you know about Magical Treasures, because we found this basement and it had a shrine to the miko which is sad but then.."
-
"Good Morning! Can I help?"
Be excited, cleaning isn't exciting but..
Start helping if possible. And then ambush her! Start talking fast, so excited,
"Hey, Keine, do you know about Magical Treasures, because we found this basement and it had a shrine to the miko which is sad but then.."
> You want to help Keine! But there's only one broom...
> Keine smiles a little.
> "Good afternoon, Mei--"
> Before she can get any more words out, however, you start rambling on about what you found in the shrine basement yesterday.
> "Um--"
> She seems like she wants to say something else.
> _
-
Keep rambling for a little bit, it's just so awesome!
Wave arms.
Then notice that she wants something.
Stop, blush, bow.
-
>After the rambling...
>"Sorry."
>Bow to Keine with the apology; she probably doesn't like anyone being too loud in the morning.
-
Keep rambling for a little bit, it's just so awesome!
Wave arms.
Then notice that she wants something.
Stop, blush, bow.
> You keep talking nonsense for a bit.
> Keine is frowning at you now.
> Embarrassed, you hastily stop talking.
>After the rambling...
>"Sorry."
>Bow to Keine with the apology; she probably doesn't like anyone being too loud in the morning.
> You apologize to Keine and bow politely. She doesn't seem too happy...
> "Did you get the letter I left you?"
> _
-
>Nod.
>"I didn't think it was a problem having her over... Though I should have told you first, I guess."
-
> "I was just kind of tired, and..."
> Twiddle our bandaged thumbs.
-
>Nod.
>"I didn't think it was a problem having her over... Though I should have told you first, I guess."
> "Mhm."
> Keine puts her hands on her hips.
> "You should have. That girl ate nearly all the food I had stored in my kitchen. You're lucky there was enough for me to prepare you breakfast," she says. "It's not okay to let her into the schoolhouse without my permission or knowledge because of this. She has a much bigger appetite than humans. I've already sent her on her way, but she still insists on staying around the outskirts of the village. I just hope she doesn't sink her teeth into any of the livestock..." She shakes her head.
> "I was just kind of tired, and..."
> Twiddle our bandaged thumbs.
> You really should have asked...but it's not your fault you couldn't find her last night.
> Keine sighs. "Well, I hope you've learned your lesson."
> There's an awkward silence now.
> "By the way, what was it that you were going on about when you burst in here?"
> _
-
"Whoa, she eats that much! She was looking for food in the shrine. The storage shed had really stinky rotten food in it. At least I think it used to be food ."
"Oh, yeah! We found how I am going to beat the kitsune! It's this big ball, and must be real magical because it burned our hands and made everything weird! And it looks like that symbol..the white black one with the eyes, that look like hugging tadpoles...mom said something that made dad laugh and he said he would tell me when I was older."
Get mad for a second..then start shaking, we're a big girl we aren't going to cry.
We aren't!
-
"Whoa, she eats that much! She was looking for food in the shrine. The storage shed had really stinky rotten food in it. At least I think it used to be food ."
"Oh, yeah! We found how I am going to beat the kitsune! It's this big ball, and must be real magical because it burned our hands and made everything weird! And it looks like that symbol..the white black one with the eyes, that look like hugging tadpoles...mom said something that made dad laugh and he said he would tell me when I was older."
Get mad for a second..then start shaking, we're a big girl we aren't going to cry.
We aren't!
> You keep hearing Rumia talk about food, but you had no idea...
> You describe what you found to Keine, which leads you to remembering something your parents did at one point, and how the symbols looked like tadpoles...probably like Mr. Frog, before he grew up.
> You're not goingi to cry you're not going to cry you're not going to cry.
> Keine blinks.
> "That kind of black and white symbol, huh...You mean like a yin-yang symbol?"
> _
-
"Yeah, that's what its called! Do you want to see it?"
-
>"Though..."
>Show hands to enforce the next point.
>"I wouldn't recommend touching it..."
-
"Yeah, that's what its called! Do you want to see it?"
>"Though..."
>Show hands to enforce the next point.
>"I wouldn't recommend touching it..."
> Keine furrows her brow.
> "That certainly sounds interesting; I'll have to see it..." She trails off when she sees your hands. "...What did it do to you?"
> The last question seems more directed to herself, than to you.
> _
-
>"It... sort of burned me... I really don't know why..."
>Look up to Keine with a smile.
>"That's why I was hoping you could help~"
-
>"It... sort of burned me... I really don't know why..."
>Look up to Keine with a smile.
>"That's why I was hoping you could help~"
> Keine is full-out-frowning again.
> "Well, I'll have a look at it, then."
> _
-
Bring Keine to our backpack.
Get it out carefully. We don't want to get burned again.
-
Bring Keine to our backpack.
Get it out carefully. We don't want to get burned again.
> You walk back to the living room, Keine following close behind. She waits near the table while you rumage through your backpack, occasionally casting glances towards the still-asleep Kouyoshi.
> You retrieve the orb, still wrapped in the sleeping bag. You don't think you're going to have to worry about getting burned again, since it's all wrapped up like this.
> _
-
> Unwrap the orb!
-
>And try not to touch it whilst doing so; least we wake up Kouyoshi with a sudden scream.
-
> Unwrap the orb!
>And try not to touch it whilst doing so; least we wake up Kouyoshi with a sudden scream.
> You carefully unfold the sleeping bag, revealing the orb.
> Keine kneels down to take a closer look, her eyes never leaving it for a moment.
> "I feel like I should know what this is, but I'm pretty sure this is a magic artifact you've found."
> _
-
> "Woah! So this could help me beat that kitsune?"
> Cast Legend Lore to identify the artifact.
-
> "Woah! So this could help me beat that kitsune?"
> Cast Legend Lore to identify the artifact.
> "I suppose you could give her a few nasty burns with this." Keine reaches out and uses a single finger to touch the orb. She immediately hisses and sticks her finger into her mouth.
> "Yeah, definitely...I wonder, if you were able to carry it up here in this, then could you use gloves to carry it?"
> _
-
> "Maybe... I was thinking, maybe if I put it in a big thing of tofu, then I could trick her into eating it!"
> "... Or maybe just throw it at her or something."
-
>... Even that sounds difficult though if it's wrapped up...
>Argh! Why does something so useful have to be so annoying to handle?!
>Give it a kick in mid-rage! [Not too hard, obviously.]
-
> "Maybe... I was thinking, maybe if I put it in a big thing of tofu, then I could trick her into eating it!"
> "... Or maybe just throw it at her or something."
> Keine takes her finger out of her mouth and proceeds to wipe it on her skirt. "Throwing it might be a better idea, I suppose."
>... Even that sounds difficult though if it's wrapped up...
>Argh! Why does something so useful have to be so annoying to handle?!
>Give it a kick in mid-rage! [Not too hard, obviously.]
> It can't be that heavy, can it?
> You give the orb a kick. It flies across the room, ricocheting off the wall before smashing through the ceiling and smacking onto the floor and laying still. The orb moves with such precision and speed that you barely even have time to register it before the damage is done. The noise and splintering of wood makes Kouyoshi leap up with a yelp, ears flattened against her head.
> Keine follows the path of destruction with critical eyes, frowning.
> "Wh-what was that?!" Kouyoshi, in the mean time, looks terrified.
> _
-
"Maybe that's how your supposed to use it?"
-
"Maybe that's how your supposed to use it?"
> Not this: it's not a bad assumption, but I'm PRETTY sure our first reaction would be squeaking and diving under the kotatsu.
> Which we do.
-
> True
-
> Don'tpanicdon'tpanicdon'tpanicaaaaaaaaa
-
"Maybe that's how your supposed to use it?"
> Not this: it's not a bad assumption, but I'm PRETTY sure our first reaction would be squeaking and diving under the kotatsu.
> Which we do.
> You would make a comment about the orb, but you're too busy hiding under the kotatsu to do so.
> Keine takes a step towards the orb, hesitates, and stops.
> "Oh my," she says. "Oh my..."
> Don'tpanicdon'tpanicdon'tpanicaaaaaaaaa
> You're not going to--
> Okay, you're going to panic. You can't help it. That could have given you a concussion if it had hit you.
> As you are reduced to a trembling wreck under the kotatsu, you hear Kouyoshi's voice.
> "Meira, you ok?"
> _
-
> "Y-y-yeah..."
> Peek out from under the kotatsu at the orb. "S-sorry..."
-
> "Y-y-yeah..."
> Peek out from under the kotatsu at the orb. "S-sorry..."
> You sneak a look at the orb. It hasn't moved.
> "I suppose you didn't know that would happen?" Keine asks, but her tone is more questioning than angry.
> _
-
>Shake head. "Uh-uh."
-
>Shake head. "Uh-uh."
> Keine moves closer to the orb, but doesn't reach down to touch it.
> "If just kicking it could do this much damage, imagine if it was used in battle."
> Kouyoshi grins, albeit uncertainly. "So that's a weapon?"
> _
-
>"It doesn't look like a weapon, it's not even sharp like my sword...But maybe I can use it like that to beat the Kitsune?"
-
>Take a good look at the damage caused...
>"... Though I think we should fix this first..."
>Look some what distressed.
-
>"It doesn't look like a weapon, it's not even sharp like my sword...But maybe I can use it like that to beat the Kitsune?"
> "A lot of weapons aren't sharp at all," Keine says.
>Take a good look at the damage caused...
>"... Though I think we should fix this first..."
>Look some what distressed.
> There's a dent in the wall, ceiling, and floor where the orb bounced around. Fixing this might be a problem...
> "I'll have Mokou do that next time I see her," Keine says. "In the meantime...I want to try looking this up. This orb, that is."
> _
-
> "Um... okay! Go ahead!"
> Crawl out from underneath the kotatsu, and regard the orb carefully.
-
> "Um... okay! Go ahead!"
> Crawl out from underneath the kotatsu, and regard the orb carefully.
> "I will be in my study." Keine turns on her heels and exits the room.
> You emerge from your hiding space and examine the orb.
> It is definitely in a yin-yang style, like the symbol had been brought to 3d. Despite having been in a dusty basement, it looks very clean. You get a strange feeling from it; the longer you stare, the more it seems to suck you in. It has a presence, almost, like you could sense if it was there if you turned your back to it. It's mesmerizing.
> If you could just figure out how to use it...
> _
-
> Hm... idea!
> Carefully pick it up with the sleeping bag. "Hey, Kouyoshi, Kouyoshi! I gotta idea!"
> Take it outside, along with our katana!
-
> Hm... idea!
> Carefully pick it up with the sleeping bag. "Hey, Kouyoshi, Kouyoshi! I gotta idea!"
> Take it outside, along with our katana!
> With the orb safely wrapped up in the sleeping bag, you head out the door.
> Kouyoshi follows you out, tail swishing back and forth and ears twitching.
> "What is it?" she finally asks when the two of you have reached the outside. It's a windy day, a bit cloudy, too, threatening rain. You can smell it in the air.
> _
-
> Unwrap the orb, and position it so it's kinda on a mound or something.
> "If kicking it did that much..." Take our katana, ready to swing like we're golfing, were we Scottish and knew of such a thing!
-
Use the back of the blade, we don't want to cut it!
-
> Unwrap the orb, and position it so it's kinda on a mound or something.
> "If kicking it did that much..." Take our katana, ready to swing like we're golfing, were we Scottish and knew of such a thing!
Use the back of the blade, we don't want to cut it!
> You unwrap the orb and nudge it into a good position.
> You figure you'd be able to get more of a response doing what you're about to do. You swing your katana back, and into the orb.
> You have no idea what "Scottish" or "golfing" are, and are a little bit wary that you thought about that.
> The orb goes flying. In a black and white blur, it goes clean through a nearby tree, leaving a round hole. This seems to slow it down somewhat, as it only scrapes a wooden path through the fence rather than go through that as well, before it plops down into the grass and rolls to a stop.
> Kouyoshi's eyes are as wide as plates.
> _
-
>"....That was AWESOME!"
>If we used it like that against the Kitsune then...!
-
Pose!
-
>"We're unstoppable!!"
>Giggle awkwardly, "Kind of..."
-
>"....That was AWESOME!"
>If we used it like that against the Kitsune then...!
Pose!
> So coooool!
> You make a silly pose. Kouyoshi covers her hand with her mouth to stiffle a giggle.
>"We're unstoppable!!"
>Giggle awkwardly, "Kind of..."
> You laugh a little yourself. This thing is really powerful.
> "Yeah..." Kouyoshi stops laughing.
> _
-
> Giggle, and run after the orb!
-
> Giggle, and run after the orb!
> In excitement, you run to the orb. It thankfully stays put.
> The closer you get, the more energy you can feel running off it.
> _
-
Try to move the energy like we move fire.
-
Try to move the energy like we move fire.
> You focus your hardest...
> ...but alas, it doesn't work at all.
> _
-
Try and tap it forward, with our sword, as softly as we can.
If we can learn to bounce it right!
-
Try and tap it forward, with our sword, as softly as we can.
If we can learn to bounce it right!
> The orb rolls forward, bouncing slightly. At least it didn't break anything this time.
> _
-
> "Well, we're learning stuff, at least."
-
> "Well, we're learning stuff, at least."
> "Yeah...but what was something like that doing in the basement of a shrine, of all places?" Kouyoshi wonders. "You'd think it'd be more under cover."
> _
-
"like more secret?" Say, scraching your head.
-
>"Like, somebody didn't want anyone to find it? Or maybe they just didn't have a use for it..."
-
"like more secret?" Say, scraching your head.
> Kouyoshi nods. "Like that."
>"Like, somebody didn't want anyone to find it? Or maybe they just didn't have a use for it..."
> "See, if they wanted to do that, they should've hidden it better. Even faeries go to that place, they'd probably have found it sooner or later."
> Kouyoshi flops back into the grass. "And that's what I was thinking about. Although if they didn't need it anymore just throwing it in the basement would make more sense."
> _
-
"Well the old shrine maiden is dead. Dead people don't need much..." say somewhat uncomfortably.
-
> Carefully pick it up with our yukata sleeves covering our hands.
-
"Well the old shrine maiden is dead. Dead people don't need much..." say somewhat uncomfortably.
> You comment that that "Tamiko" lady is dead, and get a very unpleasant feeling in your stomach.
> Carefully pick it up with our yukata sleeves covering our hands.
> You roll your sleeves over your hands and pick up the orb.
> It...
> It's not burning you.
> Kouyoshi sits up. "That was simple."
> _
-
"It burned us through the cloth before, didn't it?"
-
> Test bounciness if we throw it.
-
"It burned us through the cloth before, didn't it?"
> "But it's not burning you now," Kouyoshi says.
> Test bounciness if we throw it.
> You wonder if you should try throwing the orb. You still don't know exactly how bouncy it can be.
> _
-
Say, puzzled, "No it isn't."
Try tossing it. Gently, away from people or buildings.
-
Say, puzzled, "No it isn't."
Try tossing it. Gently, away from people or buildings.
> "Ok."
> You carefully toss the orb away. It bounces off the grass away from you, as if it were a bouncy ball on concrete. It hits another tree, leaving a dent as it bounces off, and starts to come back towards you.
> _
-
>Catch it!
-
>Catch it!
> You open your arms and let the orb bounce right into you. Because you catch it with your arms, which are covered by your sleeves, you don't feel any burning.
> _
-
>"Hey, cool!"
>Throw it again!
-
>"Hey, cool!"
>Throw it again!
> Not bad.
> You throw the orb again. It bounces off, going past the tree and around the back of the schoolhouse.
> Kouyoshi's ears twitch, and she wanders after it.
> _
-
> Chase after the orb and pick it up! "I bet we can beat the snot out of the kitsune... Hey, should we try again now?"
-
> Chase after the orb and pick it up! "I bet we can beat the snot out of the kitsune... Hey, should we try again now?"
> You give chase and manage to grab the orb before it can bounce away from you.
> This thing looks and feels pretty powerful. You figure you could do some serious damage with it.
> Kouyoshi nods. "You could burn the kitsune with it and everything."
> _
-
> "... What's... what's stopping us from doing it now? Strike while the fire's hot! She's gotta still be hurt, right?"
-
> "... What's... what's stopping us from doing it now? Strike while the fire's hot! She's gotta still be hurt, right?"
> "Probably." Kouyoshi shrugs. "You were just getting used to that orb, weren't you?"
> _
-
>"Oh. Yeah, that's a good point. But who could teach me to use it?"
>"Hey, we should ask Mokou! Maybe she'll know something!"
-
>"Oh. Yeah, that's a good point. But who could teach me to use it?"
>"Hey, we should ask Mokou! Maybe she'll know something!"
> Kouyoshi raises an eyebrow. "I thought you had a hang of it already."
> _
-
"well, sort of"
-
>"I'm not very good at aiming it yet, though."
>"ANd I want to find out how to make it come back to me so I don't have to go grab it every time."
-
>"Do you think it'd be a stupid idea to tie string around it?"
-
"well, sort of"
> "Okay."
>"I'm not very good at aiming it yet, though."
>"ANd I want to find out how to make it come back to me so I don't have to go grab it every time."
> "Would she know about that?"
>"Do you think it'd be a stupid idea to tie string around it?"
> "Yes."
> _
-
> "Yes"
> Pout and put our hands on our hips.
> "Thats mean! but hmm you are probably right, maybe a rope or a chain with a net would work better..or I could get really good at flying..to try and catch it..but I don't think anyone can fly _that_ fast."
> Does the Gensokyo diet include fish?
"Would she know about that?"
> "She knows about fire, and this burned us, so...maybe? Do have any other ideas? We've already talked to Keine-sensei."
-
Hey guys, we have a good enough handle on the orb, or at least as good as Reimu did in the first Touhou game, we can handle it ourselves.
> Ignore all of that above.
> "Uh... good point... yeah, I think I can handle it myself!"
> We gotta be confident.
> "Hey, Kouyoshi, Kouyoshi, should we use tofu to draw her out again?"
-
True, but the big question is; Have we healed enough?
We only just fought the kitsune...what, 2, 3 days ago? There's no way we're healed up enough from that.
-
> Ignore all of that above.
> "Uh... good point... yeah, I think I can handle it myself!"
> We gotta be confident.
> "Hey, Kouyoshi, Kouyoshi, should we use tofu to draw her out again?"
> You figure you've got a good idea of how to use this orb already. All that's left is to figure out how to draw the kitsune out again.
> "Hmm...Yeah, but we're going to have to be creative about it. She'll probably know it's us, considering it'll be at the same location and the same thing we did last time." She grins a little. "That's going to be fun."
> _
-
>"Got any ideas?"
-
> Would there be a problem with, say, just having the tofu out there and standing right in the open to challenge her?
-
> Does the Gensokyo diet include fish?
-
>"Got any ideas?"
> "Well, you know how those faeries were hanging around the shrine? Maybe we could get them in on it and cause a commotion," Kouyoshi suggests.
> Would there be a problem with, say, just having the tofu out there and standing right in the open to challenge her?
> Kitsune are supposed to be pretty smart, and you don't think she'd fall for the same trick again.
> Then again, if you weren't trying to trick her, it'd be more symbolic of a challenge than anything else.
> Does the Gensokyo diet include fish?
> You can't possibly think of a diet that doesn't include fish.
> _
-
> "'Cause a commotion'? How would that help?"
-
> "'Cause a commotion'? How would that help?"
> "I guess it would lure her out." Kouyoshi shrugs. "It's up to you in the end, though. You're the one who wants revenge, after all."
> _
-
> "Hm... okay! We'll do something she won't expect! We'll get the fairies to cause a commotion..."
> Pause dramatically.
> "... And then I'll be waiting out there and challenge her!"
-
> "Hm... okay! We'll do something she won't expect! We'll get the fairies to cause a commotion..."
> Pause dramatically.
> "... And then I'll be waiting out there and challenge her!"
> You decide to get the faeries in on it, too. It'll be cool!
> Kouyoshi grins. "Sounds good."
> _
-
> Carefully put the orb in our bag. "Hey, hey, should we do it now, or should we wait to see if Keine found out anything?"
-
> Carefully put the orb in our bag. "Hey, hey, should we do it now, or should we wait to see if Keine found out anything?"
> You stow the orb away. You hear a squeak as Mii shuffles to the other side of the bag to avoid it.
> "Get it over with, I guess," Kouyoshi says, and shrugs. "We've been at it a while."
> _
-
>"Then let's go!! Now or never, and I'm sure we'll win."
-
>... Mii! How is she doing?
-
>"Then let's go!! Now or never, and I'm sure we'll win."
> "Yeah, back to the shrine."
>... Mii! How is she doing?
> You almost forgot about that little bugger.
> She's curled up in one corner of the bag, trilling contentedly. As a side note, a lot of the things you're keeping in there have shed kedama fuzz on them now.
> _
-
> That little bugger!
> Well, let's go to the shrine!
-
> That little bugger!
> Well, let's go to the shrine!
> You just can't stay mad at her.
> You and Kouyoshi leave the schoolhouse, and head for the shrine. On your way through the Forest of Magic the wind starts to pick up, and by the time you've reached the stairs, you can visibly see the clouds moving across the sky. It's pleasantly cool for a summer day.
> A few faeries linger here and there on the shrine steps and the torii, not looking quite as spirited as they did the night before. In fact, they look a bit tired.
> Or at least they're just being lazy. You actually recognize a few of them from last night. Aside from their presence at the shrine, nothing seems too far out of the ordinary than the last few times you were here. Or maybe you just got used to how oddly desolate it looks, even with this winged creatures wafting about in the summer wind.
> _
-
> "Hey, fairies!" Wave our arms. "I need your help!"
> Explain our cunning plan to draw out the kitsune by making a lot of ruckus!
-
> "Hey, fairies!" Wave our arms. "I need your help!"
> Explain our cunning plan to draw out the kitsune by making a lot of ruckus!
> You call the faeries over, and explain your plan.
> At first, only a few listen, albeit a bit sluggishly. Once you start getting into more detail, however, they start to pay more attention. Once in a while a few will leave the group that has surrounded you and Kouyoshi at the top of the stairs, and will return with a few more of their numbers. As you speak, there is a quiet but blatantly excited murmuring among the faeries as they fill in the newcomers with what they missed thus far.
> This doesn't even take that long, but the shrine is already as crowded with faeries as it was last night.
> One faerie in particular makes her way through the crowd, one with mint-green hair tied in a side ponytail and a dress of the same color. The others move out of the way to let her through, and when she comes to the front of the crowd you start to wonder if you've seen her before among all the faeries you've run into over the past few days.
> "So, basically...you want us to throw a party?" she asks, sounding hopeful.
> _
-
> ... Eh, sure!
> "Yeah! A big party that attracts a lot of attention! Really loud and stuff!"
-
> ... Eh, sure!
> "Yeah! A big party that attracts a lot of attention! Really loud and stuff!"
> The faerie stares at you, eyes wide as dinner plates, before turning back to the rest of her kin.
> "We're havin' a festival!" she crows. The faeries start cheering and squealing with delight, and start to scatter.
> _
-
> Look up at Kouyoshi. "So... do you think it'll work?"
> Hang around until the festival starts kicking into gear.
-
> Look up at Kouyoshi. "So... do you think it'll work?"
> Hang around until the festival starts kicking into gear.
> Kouyoshi nods. "Of course, with all this noise."
> You watch and wait as the faeries flutter back and forth, somehow managing to scrounge up food and drink, and soon they have occupied nearly every part of the shrine with dancing and loud laughter. Someone haphazardly strings the roof with a chain of flowers, disrupting some faeries who have perched themselves there. You think there is even someone playing the flute.
> You are currently at the front of the shrine, where the most faeries are. It's pretty crowded here.
> _
-
> Wander through the festival, checking out what the fairies are doing! Don't get too distracted, though, we have to find that kitsune!
-
> Wander through the festival, checking out what the fairies are doing! Don't get too distracted, though, we have to find that kitsune!
> You wander around the shrine grounds. You see a few games of hopscotch and maybe one of four square going around in the grass. Makeshift tables of dislodged tree stumps have been set up here and there with refreshments on them; you can only barely tell it's food because there are so many faeries gathered around each and every one. You can see a small group of faeries inside the shrine itself, singing loudly, with a few bearing flutes and ocarinas. The sound manages to carry outside, and there is dancing almost everywhere.
> As you and Kouyoshi meander through the crowds, you somehow end up behind the shrine. There are faeries swimming in the pond, but none have ventured out beyond that, where you first battled the kitsune.
> _
-
Try to get a little food our selves.
Its a good thing Rumia isn't here or she would eat all of it!
-
Try to get a little food our selves.
Its a good thing Rumia isn't here or she would eat all of it!
> You try getting some food, but you can't get to it...there are too many faeries in the way.
> _
-
Is it meta gaming to try and make us smell like tofu with the ball?
-
Technically, all we know about the ball is that it burns, and is one doozy of a weapon of some kind.
-
In other words, yes, it is metagaming.
> Well, so much for that. Let's go to where we confronted the kitsune... and wait.
-
> Well, so much for that. Let's go to where we confronted the kitsune... and wait.
> You don't think you'd have the stomach to hold that down right now, anyway.
> You and Kouyoshi head out past the pond and the trees, to the clearing where you first saw the kitsune. Kouyoshi sits down in the grass, legs crossed, and stares ahead.
> You wait.
> The festivities in the background feels like an out of place soundtrack for what's going to happen, but it is there for a good reason and that is drawing out the kitsune. Time passes, and the two of you wait for a while. The faeries' merriment doesn't die down in the slightest, not even when you finally hear a rustling sound in the trees.
> _
-
> Tense up, ready for whatever may come out!
-
> Tense up, ready for whatever may come out!
> You brace yourself.
> There is more rustling, and then the sound of paws heavily hitting the earth as the kitsune emerges from the trees. None of the faeries have noticed her presence, as they're all on the other side of the pond.
> Kouyoshi stands up.
> _
-
> Stand up, and glare at the kitsune. "Hey you! I challenge you!"
> Don't tremble in fear: this is where we will revenge our family!
-
> Stand up, and glare at the kitsune. "Hey you! I challenge you!"
> Don't tremble in fear: this is where we will revenge our family!
> You're not going to be afraid. You have to do this.
> The kitsune takes a few more steps into the clearing.
> I supposed you would say that, she says.
> _
-
> "Yeah? Then prepare to be challenged!"
> Draw our katana... then pull out the orb with our sleeve covering our hand. "Are you ready?!"
-
> "Yeah? Then prepare to be challenged!"
> Draw our katana... then pull out the orb with our sleeve covering our hand. "Are you ready?!"
> The kitsune bares her fangs. Very well.
> You wield your sword, and balance the orb in your other hand.
> I-- The kitsune's fur suddenly seems to stand on end, and she lets out a low growl. ...Where did you get that?
> She springs forward, snarling.
> Where did you get that?!
> _
-
> Holy hecks she doesn't like that! Hop back, and kick the orb into her face!
-
"ha! Monsters like you are right to fear the Orb of Tadpolls!"
-
"And what does it matter to you where I got it? All that matters is where it's going - into your face!!"
-
"And what does it matter to you where I got it? All that matters is where it's going - into your face!!"
Awesome.
-
> Holy hecks she doesn't like that! Hop back, and kick the orb into her face!
> Oh no oh no oh no
> You kick the orb right towards her face. It crashes into her jaw, sending her careening off to the side. Kouyoshi uses the opportunity to start pelting her with danmaku.
"ha! Monsters like you are right to fear the Orb of Tadpolls!"
"And what does it matter to you where I got it? All that matters is where it's going - into your face!!"
> The kitsune snaps her jaws and gets back to her feet. The orb, after hitting her, continues going and bouces off a tree, heading straight for all three of you again.
> Why do you have that?!
> _
-
"The better to hit you with!"
Try and use our katana to slam the ball back into the Kitsune.
-
"The better to hit you with!"
Try and use our katana to slam the ball back into the Kitsune.
> You swing the katana at the orb just as it's coming back, and hit it at the kitsune again. The orb grazes her side but leaves a long bloody gash, which she ignores in order to slam a paw into your chest.
> You hear Kouyoshi shouting something, and the sound of drawn metal as she plunges her knife into the kitsune's other side. The orb is bouncing all over the place.
> _
-
> Cough when she hits us in the chest, and scramble for the orb. Try to aim for a weak point, like where Kouyoshi stabbed the kitsune!
-
> Cough when she hits us in the chance, and scramble for the orb. Try to aim for a weak point, like where Kouyoshi stabbed the kitsune!
> The wind has pretty much been knocked out of you.
> You make a mad scramble for the orb, trying to avoid getting your arm ripped off. Before the kitsune's fangs can sink into your flesh, you manage to fling the orb at her.
> It doesn't exactly hit her shoulder, where Kouyoshi stabbed her, but it instead smashes into the side of her neck. The kitsune makes a hacking sound, and blood spurts from her mouth.
> Kouyoshi takes this as an incentive to push her blade further into the kitsune's shoulder until it reaches the hilt.
> _
-
> We've got her! Chase after the orb, and do an awesome sword swing thing! Aim for the head for massive damage!
-
> We've got her! Chase after the orb, and do an awesome sword swing thing! Aim for the head for massive damage!
> You manage to escape as the kitsune lifts her paw away from you, and give chase to the orb. You manage to catch up with it, turn it right back around, and swing it straight towards the kitsune's head.
> There is a sickening crack, and a high-pitched yowl. Kouyoshi abandons her blade and tries to jump away from the kitsune, who is starting to thrash around in what looks like pure rage. Kouyoshi is knocked back to the ground but gets up relatively unharmed, propelling herself backward with another stream of danmaku.
> _
-
> Wince at the bone cracking. Sh-she deserved it, anyways!
> Give the orb another good whack, aiming for her body! "Had enough, yet?"
-
> Wince at the bone cracking. Sh-she deserved it, anyways!
> Give the orb another good whack, aiming for her body! "Had enough, yet?"
> It looks like it hurt, but she had it coming...!
> The kitsune tries to move to the side as you hit the orb again, but the orb ends up hitting the blade stuck in her shoulder, and she lets out another pained cry. There is a weak puff of smoke, and the kitsune is back in her human form. She is barely standing, but her eyes are livid.
> "Why...do you have...that orb?!"
> _
-
>"SO I can beat you!"
-
> Catch the orb with our sleeves and hold it threateningly!
> "Well?! Ready to apologize for everything you did?"
-
>"SO I can beat you!"
> "That's obvious!" the kitsune hisses.
> Catch the orb with our sleeves and hold it threateningly!
> "Well?! Ready to apologize for everything you did?"
> You catch the orb, poised to throw it again.
> The kitsune lets out a ragged sigh.
> "Would that even matter to you at this point?"
> _
-
> Pause. "Uh, um... well, no! You still told all those youkai to destroy my village! You're the one responsible, you and that, that, whoever it was that told you to tell them to! And you'll pay!"
> Get ready to hit the orb at her again!
-
> Pause. "Uh, um... well, no! You still told all those youkai to destroy my village! You're the one responsible, you and that, that, whoever it was that told you to tell them to! And you'll pay!"
> Get ready to hit the orb at her again!
> It's all her fault, it's all the kitsune's fault and the fault of all those youkai and whatever youkai is on top of all of this mess. It's all their fault.
> "Hm." The kitsune narrows her eyes for a brief moment before conjuring a bright blue flame in her hand.
> You're going to hit her again.
> Kouyoshi looks like she's going to say something, but the kitsune shoots her a glare. "Step out of the way."
> "Wha--" Kouyoshi makes a face and steps back, still eying the blade in the kitsune's shoulder.
> _
-
> "Don't worry, Kouyoshi, I can take her out!"
> Scream, and whack the orb at her!
-
> "Don't worry, Kouyoshi, I can take her out!"
> Scream, and whack the orb at her!
> Kouyoshi nods and moves out of the way.
> With one final scream of effort, you swing your katana and launch the orb at the kitsune. At the same time, she throws the fireball at you.
> The fire expands into a blazing wall. It races across the grass, headed straight for the orb, and by extension, you.
> The orb zips ahead in a black and white blur, cutting a hole through the wall and partially disappating it. There is another loud clunking sound, and you see the kitsune crumple to the ground. The orb, now bloodstained, just keeps bouncing, tearing out chunks of grass and dirt each time it hits the ground.
> The fire is weakened, but still coming at you.
> _
-
> Try and jump through the partially disapated part.
I am really really tempted to do a barrel roll, but unless we got the fire rat robes I don't think it would help.
-
> Try and jump through the partially disapated part.
> You make a leap of faith, right as the hole starts to close up.
> The world turns over and over, before you find yourself rolling onto the ground and feeling very hot. You think you hear Kouyoshi shouting something to you again.
> _
-
>Groan loudly, "That could have gone better.."
>Shout to Kouyoshi, "What was that?"
>Keep on guard for kitsune attacks.
-
>Groan loudly, "That could have gone better.."
>Shout to Kouyoshi, "What was that?"
>Keep on guard for kitsune attacks.
> "You're telling me! You're burning!"
> You just caught the kitsune in the head with your absurdly powerful weapon. You don't think you'll need to worry about her attacking you.
> _
-
>Wait, we're burning? Pat out/roll out the flames.
-
> DO A BARREL ROLL.
> When we're done putting out the fire, get up and check on that kitsune.
-
>Wait, we're burning? Pat out/roll out the flames.
> DO A BARREL ROLL.
> When we're done putting out the fire, get up and check on that kitsune.
> Ahhh!
> You roll across the grass, patting yourself down in the process. You probably just look like you're flailing around, but you soon feel the heat go away. You stand up, clothes stained with grass, soot, and a little bit of blood, but mostly unharmed. You head over to the kitsune to assess the damage.
> The kitsune is flat on her back, resting in a pool of her own blood. Her face is covered in blood; her forehead looks like it has been split open. Kouyoshi's blade is still lodged deeply into her shoulder, and you can see the end of the blade poking out near her collarbone. Her clothes and skin are ripped from where the orb has grazed her. One of her ears is ripped, and her tails are wilted and matted.
> _
-
> Gulp down the revulsion at the sight of her. She deserved this... right?
> Walk to her, and point our katana at her chest. "Th-there... I-I won... Be... before I end y-you... I w-want you to, to apologize..."
-
> Gulp down the revulsion at the sight of her. She deserved this... right?
> Walk to her, and point our katana at her chest. "Th-there... I-I won... Be... before I end y-you... I w-want you to, to apologize..."
> She looks pretty bad...but she deserves this, everything's her fault.
> The kitsune looks up at you as you point the katana to her chest. She doesn't seem afraid or even angry at you, just tired.
> Her breath is ragged, as though it hurts for her just to breathe.
> "Then...I...apologize...sorry..."
> _
-
> ... Really? Is that it? An apology doesn't seem to help at all. It's just kind of... hollow.
> Raise our sword, ready to plunge it into her...
> ... is this really what we want?
-
> 'But what choice do we have?'
> flash back to see ing our village in flames.
> "Why!?"
-
>Don't hesitate too much, or she could retaliate if she regains her strength!!
-
> ... Really? Is that it? An apology doesn't seem to help at all. It's just kind of... hollow.
> Raise our sword, ready to plunge it into her...
> ... is this really what we want?
> Now that you think about it, having the kitsune apologize doesn't make you feel as satisfied as you thought it would.
> You're going to stab her.
> Of course this is what you want, it's all her fault...
> 'But what choice do we have?'
> flash back to see ing our village in flames.
> "Why!?"
> You remember the village.
> "....orders..."
>Don't hesitate too much, or she could retaliate if she regains her strength!!
> You're going to stab her, right now.
> _
-
> arrg...do it.
-
Hi this is kind of a big decision so let's see what everyone thinks.
Would a little girl be fine with this kind of thing? :I
-
Fair enough.
Consider my post no more then a vote.
-
We came to beat her, right? Let's not leave the job unfinished.
-
Does Meira want revenge? Of course she does.
Does she want to kill her? That's the thing I need to point out. All this time, we've been going 'we'll beat her.' But the word 'kill' hasn't really crept up that much. From a child's viewpoint, getting revenge by beating up the person responsible is one thing; flat out 'killing' would probably scar the kid, in more ways then one.
All I'm saying is that I don't think she'd kill her; especially, from a technical view-point, she was being told to make the orders by someone else. If anything, she would need to encounter her 'master' in order lay this whole thing to rest.
I'm pretty sure killing her would be the last thing we'd do~
-
On the other hand, the cycle of violence calls.
Also I am not sure that we _can_ kill the kitsune.
And shes a murderer, we don't have a prison to put her in, or a way to seal her. Can we let her go?
Still you are right about asking her who her master is.
Hmmm.
-
Then why not do this? Threaten her to lead us to her boss, threatening her with the orb.
-
But would it be character?
-
I don't see why not. The whole killing thing was kind of out of character, which I apologize for: she really hasn't had enough time to fester about revenge to the point that killing her was an obsession.
-
Welp, pretty much anything at this point would be pretty awkward. As in, killing her or 'using' her. I'd just imagine a little girl to realize what she's done and... go cower in a corner or something. :V
-
Yeah, I'm pretty much with BT.
##VOTE cower
-
While that may be true, she's already gotten used to gore just by living in Gensokyo and cutting apart eyeball things.
Honestly, there's not much more reason to spend time on this, we're nearly at endgame here. Let's continue while we still have momentum: cowering will just draw this out, and we can do that when we're less on a battle high. If you want to stop it, go ahead, otherwise:
> ... We can't do it. Cutting apart eyes is one thing... and even then, Rika and Sigma weren't really happy with us. Even if this kitsune is evil...
> Drop our katana on the grass. "Y-you... it's a-all your fault. Y-you and y-your..."
> Wait, she has a master, right? "L-lead me to y-your master! I'll m-m-make them a-apologize, t-too! I... I want t-to know wh-why..."
-
> ... We can't do it. Cutting apart eyes is one thing... and even then, Rika and Sigma weren't really happy with us. Even if this kitsune is evil...
> Drop our katana on the grass. "Y-you... it's a-all your fault. Y-you and y-your..."
> Wait, she has a master, right? "L-lead me to y-your master! I'll m-m-make them a-apologize, t-too! I... I want t-to know wh-why..."
> You don't think you can go through with this.
> You let go of the katana. Everything is her fault and you can't kill her.
> The kitsune just keeps staring.
> "I..."
> Her eyelids droop.
> _
-
> "No! Don't go to sleep!"
> Kneel down and pat her cheek to make her stay awake! "T-tell me where they are!"
-
> "No! Don't go to sleep!"
> Kneel down and pat her cheek to make her stay awake! "T-tell me where they are!"
> You try to keep the kitsune awake by patting her face. The most reaction you get out of her is flinching.
> "She..." The kitsune makes a gargling noise. "..could be anywh-where...even here..."
> _
-
> "No..no, you aren't going to die with out telling me where she lives!"
Grab her ears.
-
> "No..no, you aren't going to die with out telling me where she lives!"
Grab her ears.
> The kitsune lets out a strangled cry of pain when you grab her ears.
> _
-
> Loosen our grip on her ears, but continue to hold them. "T-tell me!"
-
> Loosen our grip on her ears, but continue to hold them. "T-tell me!"
> "She's..."
> The kitsune's voice trails off, and she goes kind of limp.
> _
-
>Nudge her to try and revive her, "D-don't you dare!! T-tell me, now!!
-
>Nudge her to try and revive her, "D-don't you dare!! T-tell me, now!!
> The kitsune doesn't respond.
> _
-
> She's... she's still alive, right?
-
> She's... she's still alive, right?
> You don't think so.
> _
-
> scream in wordless frustration.
-
> scream in wordless frustration.
> This isn't good.
> "Uh..."
> It's Kouyoshi. You almost forgot she was standing over there.
> _
-
>"Now what do we do? How are we supposed to find her master now? Do we wait for them to come looking for her?"
>Time for overly-fast idea overload?
-
>"Now what do we do? How are we supposed to find her master now? Do we wait for them to come looking for her?"
>Time for overly-fast idea overload?
> What are you supposed to do what are you supposed to do what are you supposed to do
> "Um." Kouyoshi points over your head.
> _
-
> Look!
-
> Look!
> You look in the indicated direction, and then you realize that the faeries' music had long since stopped.
> Instead, the faeries are all standing at the other end of the pond in one big crowd, looking absolutely horrified.
> _
-
>Oh. This can't look very good, even if the kitsune was evil.
>Still, even if we,,,,,killed her....she did deserve it right?
>"Kouyoshi, I did the right thing, didn't I?"
>Where is the orb? We can't leave that lying around or it might hurt someone.
-
>Oh. This can't look very good, even if the kitsune was evil.
>Still, even if we,,,,,killed her....she did deserve it right?
>"Kouyoshi, I did the right thing, didn't I?"
>Where is the orb? We can't leave that lying around or it might hurt someone.
> You killed the kitsune. You took another life.
> She deserved this, but you suddenly feel conflicted.
> Kouyoshi looks as lost as you are. "I...don't really know."
> The orb is lying in the grass a few feet away from the you and the kitsune. It's a mess. It's stained with the kitsune's blood, and matted with grass and dirt.
> _
-
> Stumble to the orb, and pick it up. Wipe away the blood with our sleeve.
> "... what do I do now...?"
-
> Stumble to the orb, and pick it up. Wipe away the blood with our sleeve.
> "... what do I do now...?"
> "I don't know that, either..."
> In a daze, you head over to the orb and start cleaning it off.
> You hear one of the faeries let out a sob.
> _
-
> Stop making us feel guilty, fairy...
> Look at the body of the kitsune. "Uh.. um... should... should we bury her...?"
-
> Maybe burn?
-
>This is what we wanted, but it feels so...wrong
>But that kitsune managed to kill a whole village! She killed our family! All because some boss told her to! We won't feel guilty!
>We wont.
>......We should still bury her though.....
-
> Stop making us feel guilty, fairy...
> Look at the body of the kitsune. "Uh.. um... should... should we bury her...?"
> Maybe burn?
> You start to wonder what you should do with the body. You don't know how long it would take to bury her.
> You consider burning her, but the mere thought makes your stomach turn. That crying faerie is making you feel guilty for doing this.
> More faeries start making scared noises; some even scream. Gradually they turn from the pond and run, flying into the trees and away from the shrine as fast as they can. Eventually, you, Kouyoshi, and the kitsune are the only ones in sight.
>This is what we wanted, but it feels so...wrong
>But that kitsune managed to kill a whole village! She killed our family! All because some boss told her to! We won't feel guilty!
>We wont.
>......We should still bury her though.....
> You're not going to feel guilty you're not going to feel guilty...
> You think you see something out of the corner of your eye.
> _
-
>Turn to the something.
-
>Turn to the something.
> You turn around. You...have no idea what that is. It's what you could only really describe a rip in midair, framed by two red ribbons and staring out at you with many, many eyes from a vast dark space. It's probably about the size of Kouyoshi's hat.
> _
-
>"Kouyoshi, what is that?!" Point at the rip.
>Maybe....is that the kitsune's boss? It certainly looks terrifying....
-
>"Kouyoshi, what is that?!" Point at the rip.
>Maybe....is that the kitsune's boss? It certainly looks terrifying....
> "Uh." Kouyoshi blinks. "Maybe it's some sort of spell."
> As she says this, the rip disappears, and reappears on the ground, underneath the kitsune. A pair of long-sleeved hands reach out and start gently tugging the kitsune into the rip.
> _
-
Grab our Katana and jump in! Her boss doesn't get to bury her.
-
Grab our Katana and jump in! Her boss doesn't get to bury her.
> You take a leap after the kitsune, but something catches you by the back of your shirt and throws you back. It definitely wasn't Kouyoshi, because you can see her running over to you now.
> "Another one just appeared above you," she says as the kitsune disappears into the gap. "Is that some sort of teleportation spell?"
> _
-
>Is either gap still present? If so, go for the nearest one.
-
>Is either gap still present? If so, go for the nearest one.
> You don't see any of them anymore.
> "Hehe."
> _
-
> "Who are you?! Where are you taking her?!"
-
> "Who are you?! Where are you taking her?!"
> Another rip appears in the air again, and a pair of hands grip the edges as if to pull it down.
> "I am merely returning her to where she came from," the voice says.
> The rip widens, and the source of the voice emerges from the waist up.
> It's a downright alien-looking woman. She looks human, but her hair is unusual, being bright and gold. Her eyes are far from normal, too; they're visibly purple. A white mob cap with a thin red ribbon rests upon her head. She's wearing a panel over her dress decorated, decorated with trigrams.
> From her sleeve she retrieves a fan, which she snaps open and starts fanning herself with.
> "Summer's quite hot, isn't it?" she says. "I should've worn something lighter than this. But yes, I've sent her somewhere else for now."
> _
-
> "Why! Why did you kill everyone?!"
> Point our katana at her.
> "WHY!?"
-
> "Why! Why did you kill everyone?!"
> Point our katana at her.
> "WHY!?"
> The woman smiles faintly, and continues to fan herself.
> "What are you talking about?"
> _
-
"My village, why did you order her to kill my village?"
Move closer so the katana is inches away from her face.
-
"My village, why did you order her to kill my village?"
Move closer so the katana is inches away from her face.
> She's too high for you to get the katana anywhere near her face.
> "I did say I didn't know what you were talking about," the woman says. "And that's quite a rude way to treat someone you've just met, especially when they mean you no harm."
> _
-
Do we know of shikigami?
-
>"You mean no harm?"
> Point katana. More.
>"You've already done enough harm!"
-
Do we know of shikigami?
> What's a shikigami?
> You wonder why you would think of something you don't know about.
>"You mean no harm?"
> Point katana. More.
>"You've already done enough harm!"
> "I haven't done anything," the woman says. She leans on the edge of the rip and idly waves the fan in your direction. "Cool your head."
> _
-
>We may have erupted if not for that fan. Maybe.
>"Y-You know what I'm talking about, so who did do it?!"
>Angry, we're so angry.
-
>We may have erupted if not for that fan. Maybe.
>"Y-You know what I'm talking about, so who did do it?!"
>Angry, we're so angry.
> "You just killed her, didn't you?"
> _
-
>"T-That's not what I meant!"
>Flail, a bit.
>"You're the one who started this! The village burned because of you!"
-
>"How can you be so calm about having an entire village killed?!"
-
>"T-That's not what I meant!"
>Flail, a bit.
>"You're the one who started this! The village burned because of you!"
>"How can you be so calm about having an entire village killed?!"
> "Oh, my..." The woman laughs a little. "I've heard about that, but what makes you think I was responsible for it?"
> _
-
>Patience: gone.
>How high up is she?
-
>She's really annoying.
>"Your pet fox said so!"
-
>Patience: gone.
>How high up is she?
>She's really annoying.
>"Your pet fox said so!"
> She's higher than you, that's for sure.
> "Oh, my, you must be mistaken. That is not my fox."
> _
-
>...
>Huh?
>"You're not her master?"
-
>...
>Huh?
>"You're not her master?"
> "Of course not, silly." The woman continues to fan herself. "I am merely another one of the goddesses that inhabit this wonderful paradise they call Gensokyo."
> _
-
"My village, why did you order her to kill my village?"
Move closer so the katana is inches away from her face.
Do we know of shikigami?
Awesome job metagaming, Chuck.
> "O-oh..." That's embarassing...
> Sheath our sword, and hesitantly bow to her. "U-uh... sorry... I-I..."
> We're losing our mind, aren't we?
> "Wh-what do you w-want, then...?"
-
> "O-oh..." That's embarassing...
> Sheath our sword, and hesitantly bow to her. "U-uh... sorry... I-I..."
> We're losing our mind, aren't we?
> "Wh-what do you w-want, then...?"
> Oh. Uh.
> This is kind of awkward. You wonder if you're starting to crack.
> "Hmhm." The woman laughs quietly and snaps her fan shut. "It's about that orb you're holding, there." She jabs her fan in its general direction.
> "Do you know what it is?"
> _
-
> "Um... it belonged to Tamiko...? And the kitsune was weak against it?"
> Look at the orb, then back at the woman.
-
>"A really powerful weapon?"
-
> "Um... it belonged to Tamiko...? And the kitsune was weak against it?"
> Look at the orb, then back at the woman.
>"A really powerful weapon?"
> The woman's smile fades slowly when you mention Tamiko.
> "You know that much." She smiles again, just a little bit. "That is the Hakurei Yin Yang orb, passed down to the Hakurei shrine maidens for hundreds of years. It's so powerful because it's purpose is youkai extermination. In a land full of youkai, this increases its power tenfold."
> _
-
> "Woah..." Look at the orb in awe. "That's why the kitsune was beaten so easily...!"
> Look up at the... goddess? "Th-then I could use this to help Keine protect the human village!"
-
>Hakurei? Have we heard of them?
>"If its meant for beating up youkai, why did it burn me before?"
>We certainly aren't a youkai.
>"Umm...do you know how to use this better?" If we can control it better, we won't have to worry about hitting the wrong person!
>Remember what it did to that tree. Don't want to miss with this.
-
> "Woah..." Look at the orb in awe. "That's why the kitsune was beaten so easily...!"
> Look up at the... goddess? "Th-then I could use this to help Keine protect the human village!"
> So it wasn't you who had gotten that strong, it was because you were aided by the orb...
> ...Or maybe the orb made you stronger? You hope that's the reason.
> Is this woman really a goddess? The whole floating in midair and elegant act seem convincing enough.
> The 'goddess' smiles wider. "No."
>Hakurei? Have we heard of them?
>"If its meant for beating up youkai, why did it burn me before?"
>We certainly aren't a youkai.
>"Umm...do you know how to use this better?" If we can control it better, we won't have to worry about hitting the wrong person!
>Remember what it did to that tree. Don't want to miss with this.
> You don't think you've heard of the Hakurei before.
> "That's because it was meant for people of the Hakurei bloodline," the 'goddess' explains.
> You're pretty sure you're human. Your parents were humans, you've grown up surrounded by humans, so it'd be impossible for you to be a youkai.
> "You were using it how it has usually been used," she says. "Albeit you were a bit rusty with it."
> _
-
>"No?" Why not?
>"Miss Goddess, who are the Hakurei?"
-
>"No?" Why not?
>"Miss Goddess, who are the Hakurei?"
> "Because it doesn't belong to you." The 'goddess' starts fanning herself again. "My goodness, wasn't it supposed to rain today? The Hakurei is a family that is hundreds of years old, the ones tasked with protecting Gensokyo and, through simply existing, keeping the Great Boundary up. That's what their purpose is, when you get down to the roots of it, and all you really need to know."
> _
-
> "But... the Hakurei aren't here! So if they're not here use the orb and protect humans, then why can't I?"
-
> "But... the Hakurei aren't here! So if they're not here use the orb and protect humans, then why can't I?"
> "Because you'd just keep burning yourself," the 'goddess' says. "The orb can only reach its full potential if used by one of the Hakurei. And there is one thing."
> Another rip appears in the air above you, and a hand reaches down towards the orb. Next to the 'goddess' is another rip, and she's sticking her hand through it.
> "Right now, the next in line is a little too young for that. I'll be taking this back now."
> _
-
>"Wait, wait, wait! I still need this to beat the kitsune's boss!"
>"...Whoever that is."
>"Oh! DO you know who her boss is?"
-
> Cover the orb with our sleeve.
> ... Wait, there's another? "Where is she? That Hakurei person?"
-
>"Wait, wait, wait! I still need this to beat the kitsune's boss!"
>"...Whoever that is."
>"Oh! DO you know who her boss is?"
> You still have to get revenge on the kitsune's boss, but you don't know where she is or who she even is...
> The 'goddess' shakes her head.
> "I'm afraid I don't know."
> Cover the orb with our sleeve.
> ... Wait, there's another? "Where is she? That Hakurei person?"
> The hand covers itself with its sleeve and nudges your arm, trying to scoop the orb out of your hands.
> "Hmhm." The 'goddess' covers up her smirk with her fan. "That's a secret."
> _
-
> Puff up our cheeks. "That's not fair..."
> Hesitate. "H-hey... when she gets old enough... will I be able to m-meet her...?"
> Whatever the answer may be, relent, and let the goddess take the orb.
-
> Puff up our cheeks. "That's not fair..."
> Hesitate. "H-hey... when she gets old enough... will I be able to m-meet her...?"
> Whatever the answer may be, relent, and let the goddess take the orb.
> Surely the goddess would be able to tell you?
> "That would be up to the you and her, now wouldn't it?" The hand takes the orb and draws it back into the rift, where it drops onto the goddess's lap. She nudges it with her fan, and it disappears into the void she is sticking out of.
> "There. All safe." She lets herself sink slowly after it. "With that, I must take my leave."
> She waves to Kouyoshi, who blinks in surprise before hesitantly waving back.
> _
-
"So why do you want the body? I was going to give her a funeral. Its more then my family got!"
-
"So why do you want the body? I was going to give her a funeral. Its more then my family got!"
> "I will take care of that," the goddess says. Only her the top of her head from her eyes up, as well as her eyes, are visible. "You won't need to concern yourself with the kitsune again."
> _
-
> Watch the goddess leave in utter confusion and exhaustion.
> Turn to Kouyoshi. "H-hey... who the h-heck was that...?"
-
> Watch the goddess leave in utter confusion and exhaustion.
> Turn to Kouyoshi. "H-hey... who the h-heck was that...?"
> The woman slips into the rip, which proceeds to close up and disappear out of thin air. Just like that, she's gone.
> You are completely burned out. This goddess didn't exactly help that, but...
> Kouyoshi shakes her head. "I have no idea."
> _
-
>"....Let's just head back to the village."
-
>"....Let's just head back to the village."
> Having no reason to be at the shrine any longer, you and Kouyoshi leave and head back for the village. About halfway there it finally starts to rain, and the two of you are hurrying as fast as you can to cover. You make a beeline for the schoolhouse without any sign of Rumia, and finally reach the safety of the schoolhouse before the thunder starts pounding.
> You're immediately accosted by a very angry and distraught Keine, who first reprimands you for being out so long without warning, and then for being so filthy. You are terrified, but it reminds you of being scolded by your mother, a bit.
> You remember how you played outside so long back in Mayohiga, catching frogs but having to release them later. You remember the village and how it was a little like this one, albeit having a better name and being a little bit smaller.
> You then realize that Keine has stopped yelling and is frantically trying to wipe tears from your eyes, and you wonder when you started crying.
> The rest of the day is spent at the schoolhouse, getting cleaned up and finally getting around to organizing all the things you've been carrying around like a pack mule. Mii seems to be very happy at the absence of the Yin Yang orb, although everything else is covered in hair. You spend the better part of the afternoon picking the white fuzz out of everything. At the very least, your sketchbook is untouched. You wouldn't expect fur to get between the pages, anyway.
> At some point, you fall asleep, and awaken in a haze to find your belongings neatly piled up for you, with you tucked into a futon. Kouyoshi is sprawled out on the floor nearby, still fast asleep with her hat over her face. The sound of the rain has stopped outside, and a weak light streams in through the windows. You get up and take a look outside.
> It's morning, the beginning of a new day.
> You realize that there is no kitsune to kill, no Mokou to find and train with, no obligations or things that need to be done.
> Your heart sinks: you have a whole summer ahead of you, and you have no idea what to do next. But then you remember your entire inventory: the net and bug cage, the sketchbook, the clothes you have yet to make. There are still frogs to hunt around the Human Village.
> And so the hot summer days pass by, and you set about your usual hobbies as normally as you can. Aside from Keine, who is hospitable enough to let you stay in her house, you know absolutely no one in the village. You try making friends and greeting people, but you suddenly find it too hard. Maybe it's just your shyness cropping up, but whatever it is, you somehow end up spending a lot of time alone, or with Kouyoshi, who continues to disguise herself as a human every time she is outside. Maybe she's shy, too.
> Eventually, anxiety overcomes Kouyoshi, and she hurries back to her home beneath the tree. Being bored that day, you tag along with her and idle around as she calms herself down by checking every last item in her now-dusty home. Much to her relief, everything is as it was.
> After that day, the two of you head back to her home every now and then to enjoy the forest in the summer. While you're there she teaches you how to fish, and how to forage. She notes that they'll be useful if you're out traveling a lot, although she doesn't know what you plan to do when you get older.
> The summer ends, and the green blanket over Gensokyo slowly turns a brilliant red, orange, and gold. Mii continues to stay with you, growing fatter and somehow more adorable as she eats nearly everything in sight. The villagers are preparing for their autumn harvest, but this time, you and the other children don't have to help. Instead, you have to go back to school. You had almost forgotten about that, and feel that after all that's happened, there's no way you could just sit still and learn. But thou must, says Keine. You find it hard to pay attention to your classes at first, but you soon get the hang of it. For the first time you get the feeling that you are picking up where you left off.
> Speaking of Keine, she has grown much busier after the school term has started, and eventually it is Mokou who starts taking care of you. With Keine's badgering she cleans out the rest of her house and clears out a room for you to stay. She helps around the village and disappears every night like clockwork, but is somehow always back by morning. She's kind of distant but helps you with your homework and cooks for you, and that makes her a good guy in your book.
> Months pass, and you realize that the travel time between the village and the chapel where Rika and Marisa live could practically be halved if you just flew. While Kouyoshi is at her own home and Mokou is off shoveling snow, you fly through flurries over the fields and the forest, until you reach the chapel again. It looks picturesque covered in snow, and you are please to find that Shikoba is entirely willing to let you in.
> Thus, you reunite with Rika and Marisa, who proudly tells you that she has turned five years old in the time that you were away. After much begging and pleading, you agree to having a belated birthday party. Nevermind that she already celebrated, Rika tells you as she decorates Evil Eye Sigma with paper flowers.
> As the three of you are eating cake and making merry, you notice a woman with long, green hair and a slightly silly-looking hat only outmatched by a menacing pair of bat-like wings float by the kitchen door. She pauses and gives you a curious look before turning and floating away through the wall.
> Weirdo.
> You later find out that this was "Mima-sama" everyone here seems to idolize, and are incredibly embarrassed at your first impression of her. However, you are allowed to take home a portion of the cake. That makes up for it immediately. You are sent off, with Rika and Marisa inviting you over tomorrow so you can properly meet Mima.
> When you finally reach home, the lanterns in the Human Village are already on. Kouyoshi and Mokou are already home. It's late and you're tired from flying so long, but you think ending the day with sharing some cake with them wouldn't hurt.
> You are currently sitting in Mokou's house with a plump and sleepy Mii in your lap, feeling a bit drowsy yourself. You have not gone back to what is left of Mayohiga once since the summer. You figure you probably should do so some time to pay your last respects, but that could probably wait for spring. Winter's a cold season, anyway.
> And although you're not entirely used to your new life yet, you think you're on your way.
> Prequel Ending! (http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa416/sanakoi/meiraending3.png)
Credits:
> Story and art: Himiko
> Original Inspiration: Story of Eastern Wonderland
> Thanks again for making this quest a good one!
> See you next Phantasm!
> _
-
> Congratulations!
-
>Honest opinions on how the kitsune situation went.
>Were there any paths we could have taken instead of this route? [I know of a couple, at least; confirmation here.]
>BGM REQUEST~ [Quite a lot... but I can't remember the scenes for once. I've not been doing so well in remembering stuff lately...]
-
>BGM: Battle with the kitsune
>BGM: Second battle with the kitsune
>BGM: Attacked by the eyes!
>BGM: The abandoned shrine
-
>More requests
>BGM: The Burning Village
>BGM: Kouyoshi's Home
>BGM: Meeting Mii
>BGM: The Rabbit Princess
>BGM: Learning to fly
-
Knew I forgot one.
>BGM: Mokou vs. Rabbit Princess
And another:
>BGM: Forest on fire
-
ALL OF YOU ARE FORGETTING SOMETHING.
>BGM: Realization - Death of Mr Froggy
-
I just want to say I had a blast reading and playing in this.
Even if I was not the best player.
Sorry about that.
-
> Congratulations!
> Third quest completed, yesssss o/
>Honest opinions on how the kitsune situation went.
>Were there any paths we could have taken instead of this route? [I know of a couple, at least; confirmation here.]
>BGM REQUEST~ [Quite a lot... but I can't remember the scenes for once. I've not been doing so well in remembering stuff lately...]
> I was expecting you guys to exploit her guilt or try to lower her guard. Or at least try to find her faster than you did. I was expecting this quest to be two threads at most, but then again, I've assumed stuff like that before and wound up with a longer story.
> Had you stayed at the chapel longer and waited for Mima, she would've helped you take down the kitsune, or rather, finished it off for you. Of the places you could have chosen to settle for the time, you could've just stuck with Kouyoshi or went to the chapel--in the case of the chapel, flying would have reduced travel time to less than a day, so you could have easily gone to and from instead of walking everywhere. Also, had you bothered to wake up Yuuka she would have gladly helped you out or even offered you a place to stay if you really wanted.
>BGM: Battle with the kitsune
>BGM: Second battle with the kitsune
>BGM: Attacked by the eyes!
>BGM: The abandoned shrine
> First Encounter (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9NyWR9nqYOY&feature=related)
> Rematch (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1I9vxzVjEZg)
> Horde (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IdAzVhCof_4)
> Tamiko's Home (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=irSqey3LjOI)
>More requests
>BGM: The Burning Village
>BGM: Kouyoshi's Home
>BGM: Meeting Mii
>BGM: The Rabbit Princess
>BGM: Learning to fly
> Pyrophobia (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1bk228pa2No)
> Even Beneath the Roots (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WtPORuFGhtw&feature=related)
> Dandelion Kedama (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wELSZ9Azchs)
> The Rabbit with no Ears (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3yqQe0-6PkM&feature=related)
> Swimming in Air (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ndmlxuV9E1s)
Knew I forgot one.
>BGM: Mokou vs. Rabbit Princess
And another:
>BGM: Forest on fire
> The Phoenix and the Hare (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gMP7a3nbuKk&feature=related)
> Hurry and Put out the Fire (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hFqoZf59MUo&feature=related)
ALL OF YOU ARE FORGETTING SOMETHING.
>BGM: Realization - Death of Mr Froggy
> In the Dreamscape's Lake (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mt3MW5k5hlg)
I just want to say I had a blast reading and playing in this.
Even if I was not the best player.
Sorry about that.
> Oh, thank you o/ I'm glad you enjoyed yourself o/
> If you want my honest opinion, I would sometimes get confused whether you were entering a command or not, because you never typed the ">" mark.
> _
-
> ...And the image faded on the feather, and started to replay from the beginning. The goddess of dreams and miracles watched it for a little while longer, before letting it float off with the rest of the feathers.
> "Wa ha ha, that was an interesting one."
> _