Author Topic: (Skyseas of Gensokyo) Nazrin Quest (Part 6)  (Read 44678 times)

(Skyseas of Gensokyo) Nazrin Quest (Part 6)
« on: October 30, 2011, 04:17:13 AM »
>You are Nazrin, a newly inducted member of the Seeker's Guild, and you are dying.

>While investigating a series of cattle disappearances around the village of Easthaven, you uncovered a nest of giant spiders. Your subsequent investigation of their lair had dire and lasting consequences when a wild spider youkai, furious with you for killing a dozen of her kin, infected you with a supernaturally virulent disease. You narrowly eascaped death that very day due to the sheltering power of Kumokirimaru and Minoriko's creative thinking. Still, she was unable to halt the progression of the disease and insists that you have no more than a week or two to live. Determined that you will survive this ordeal, you have set out in search of a cure.

>Your investigation has brought you back to Braston, where you spent most of this last evening looking for information about either your disease, or the sword that you found within their lair, in the hopes that any clue of its origin may lead to an answer for the blight. Unfortunately, no one you've spoken with yet has any familiarity with your disease, nor knowledge of the war which the spider youkai spoke of. Nor can any of them read the inscription found on Kumokirimaru's guard, though you've learned that its script matches that of the dig site recently established on an islet off the north edge of Estval. An archeology student associated with that dig has promised to contact her supervisor, Professor Kamishirasawa, and ask if you can be taken to the site to speak with her about this.

>At your request, Marisa has departed for Easthaven to defeat the spider youkai who infected you and deliver her to Ichirin, in the hope that she may be able to convince the youkai where you failed, and perhaps offer her a better future than the one which awaits her now.
>You also spoke with Yuugi Hoshiguma, who expressed an interest in meeting you after your encounter with Yuzu earlier in the week. She offered to get a crude scabbard made for your sword, and said it would probably be ready by tomorrow afternoon.

>You are currently in the home and practice of a mage physician, who has offered to craft a magical cure for your ailment. While she is the first yet to suggest any treatment at all for this disease, you find something about the encounter leaves you wary, and have decided to investigate other options before agreeing to her price.

>Hm. Maybe she ain't so bad. Either that, or she knows how to play folks. But we'll keep her in mind if our other leads dry up.
>"Well, I thank you for your time. And your concern, as well, I appreciate it."
>Assuming she doesn't stop us, depart and continue running down leads.

>Well, it wasn't blatant salesmanship, and she clearly knows at least a couple tricks. You decide it's worth keeping her in mind, at least.
>She nods. "Of course."
>You take your leave and return to following up names on Rinnosuke's list.

>Arriving at the location of the second name, you find all the house's windows dark. You knock just the same. And then again. When complete silence from inside is your only answer, you decide they're either away, or soundly (and quietly) asleep. Well, you can always check back later.

>Your fourth stop is at the home of a heavy-set middle aged woman, her hair a little dishevelled and with tired rings under her eyes. You are fairly certain that you woke her up with your knocking, though this seems to bother her little. As it turns out, she is the doctor who travelled to Easthaven to tend to you while you lay feverish and unconscious. She tells you that she is very glad to see you on your feet, the unsaid implication of her tone being that she didn't expect there was any hope you ever would again.
>Unfortunately, she can only reiterate what Ichirin and Minoriko already told you: that she knows nothing of this disease, nor any treatment that she can reasonably expect would be effective, given her earlier attempts. She actually directs you towards the first man you spoke with this evening, and slumps a little when you explain that he had already drawn a blank as well. With a shurg and a sigh, you thank her for her time and let her get back to bed.

>It's getting quite late now, and most of the city is quiet around you. To the far north, you can still hear the night-long sounds of the oni, almost gentle at this distance.

>How many guilders do we currently have?

>You currently have 455 guilders.

Re: (Skyseas of Gensokyo) Nazrin Quest (Part 6)
« Reply #1 on: October 30, 2011, 04:37:17 AM »
>Hmm. How many more names are on the list?
>How tired are we?
>Is there a chapel around to pledge our vows to Orange?

Re: (Skyseas of Gensokyo) Nazrin Quest (Part 6)
« Reply #2 on: October 30, 2011, 04:57:56 AM »
>Hmm. How many more names are on the list?
>How tired are we?
>Is there a chapel around to pledge our vows to Orange?

>Only a couple.
>Pretty tired, honestly. You're still not feeling in top form, and you've done an awful lot of running around today. You could still manage to keep going for a bit if you chose to, however.
>"No ceremony or band of gold could make my devotion any more true, my love," she cries. "I would sooner have my soul torn asunder than be untrue to you for even a moment. But if this means you will accept my devotion, then I pledge to you my every breath in this life and the next and the ones thereafter, as long as my soul has form."

Re: (Skyseas of Gensokyo) Nazrin Quest (Part 6)
« Reply #3 on: October 30, 2011, 05:38:58 AM »
>Visit the closest name to our current location, then gauge our status.
>"'tis for that very reason why I desire a public display, dear Orange!" Grasp her hands tightly. "To show the world that true love exists, and can be found, if one is brave! That the world might see your devotion, and know that pure love, pure good, still exists, as an example for all to strive for!"
« Last Edit: October 30, 2011, 05:45:05 AM by Old Man Sour »

Re: (Skyseas of Gensokyo) Nazrin Quest (Part 6)
« Reply #4 on: October 30, 2011, 06:26:40 AM »
>"'tis for that very reason why I desire a public display, dear Orange!" Grasp her hands tightly. "To show the world that true love exists, and can be found, if one is brave! That the world might see your devotion, and know that pure love, pure good, still exists, as an example for all to strive for!"

>"Then let us show them!" she replies, her expression rapturous.

>Visit the closest name to our current location, then gauge our status.

>You select the closest name, and continue onward.
>This home, too, is dark when you approach it, though you manage to roust the owner after some knocking. He is somewhat less indifferent to this inconvenience than the woman you spoke with last was, given that you appear to be in no immediate distress. Nevertheless, he does perform a brief examination. After it, he expresses skepticism about the lethality of the condition, given its lack of apparent impairment in any number of physical systems, but suggests that if you are truly convinced it requires an unusual remedy, a certain other physician in town would have the most encyclopedia knowledge to consult. Disappointingly, though perhaps unsurprising, this is again the man who sat at the top of Rinnosuke's list. However, he adds that if this was the work of a youkai, not all normal medical rules may apply, and that spiritual measures might be a more fruitful avenue to explore. With that, he ushers you out again, quite visibly eager to return to sleep.
>Stepping outside again, you guage your condition. You are understandably somewhat more fatigued than before the visit, though it truth it did not take too long, and perhaps a little frustrated, given how little useful information you've managed to gather so far. That being said, you still could keep going in you wanted, though you feel the chances of finding any humans up and about it probably pretty slim now.

Re: (Skyseas of Gensokyo) Nazrin Quest (Part 6)
« Reply #5 on: October 30, 2011, 06:47:53 AM »
>Okay, ONE more name.

Re: (Skyseas of Gensokyo) Nazrin Quest (Part 6)
« Reply #6 on: October 30, 2011, 07:07:20 AM »
>Okay, ONE more name.

>You decide to try one more name on the list. This one takes you nearly all the way across town, back towards the guild and peripherally close to the neighborhood of your own apartment. You find yourself in front of a rather small dwelling, not terribly larger than your own meager quarters, and notably smaller than most of the places you've yet visited. Yet again, consulting with this person involves making a deliberate effort to wake them. Fortunately, the woman who eventually answers the door is more patient with you than the previous physician. Unfortunately, it turns out that she is essentially little more than a first aid worker, with very limited expertise outside of common ailments. Upon seeing your condition, she immediately directs you to several other people, all of whom you've already consulted with. You thank her for her time, and let her get back to sleep.
>You let out a little sigh as you step back into the night air. Maybe you should think about doing the same?

Re: (Skyseas of Gensokyo) Nazrin Quest (Part 6)
« Reply #7 on: October 30, 2011, 07:26:41 AM »
>Take a moment to lean our back against a building and breathe first.
>Well at least the night wasn't a wash. We sent Marisa to Easthaven. Maybe we couldn't get anything tangible about a cure tonight, but we at least left one door open. Might have to see her tomorrow, depending on if this archaeologist prof gets into town and if said prof has anything useful for us.
>Spare a moment to think about Orange. She's not gonna like hearing about this part of our first real job, no, sir.
>Worries for tomorrow, though. Not getting much else done tonight. Make for home.

Re: (Skyseas of Gensokyo) Nazrin Quest (Part 6)
« Reply #8 on: October 30, 2011, 07:52:43 AM »
>Take a moment to lean our back against a building and breathe first.
>Well at least the night wasn't a wash. We sent Marisa to Easthaven. Maybe we couldn't get anything tangible about a cure tonight, but we at least left one door open. Might have to see her tomorrow, depending on if this archaeologist prof gets into town and if said prof has anything useful for us.
>Spare a moment to think about Orange. She's not gonna like hearing about this part of our first real job, no, sir.
>Worries for tomorrow, though. Not getting much else done tonight. Make for home.

>You pause a moment, leaning your back against the side of a building and reflecting on the night's events. Even if you haven't found what you'd been hoping you would, you've still set a few other things in motion and left Easthaven in good hands. You wonder how far Marisa's gotten by now...
>You spare a thought to Orange. There's no doubt this news would hit her hard. Poor girl practically wears her heart on her sleeve, even though you know she tries to avoid it.
>With a resigned sigh, you push off the wall again and head for home. It's late, you're tired, and all the leads you're waiting on are going to take until tomorrow before you can do anything about them. May as well get some sleep.

>After a short and uneventful walk, you find yourself back in front of your door once more. Man... with how the events of the last week have been, it seems almost like months since you've been here. There are a couple scattered lights to be seen in the windows of the other guild quarters, though the neighborhood is still mostly quiet.

Re: (Skyseas of Gensokyo) Nazrin Quest (Part 6)
« Reply #9 on: October 30, 2011, 08:08:28 AM »
>Head inside.
>Carry Orange across the threshold. "Are you ready, my dear?"
>Produce Rinosuke's list and scratch off the names we've visited tonight. Procuring a writing instrument if we've not one on our person.
>Search our room for any spare weapons we left behind when we left town the first time.

Re: (Skyseas of Gensokyo) Nazrin Quest (Part 6)
« Reply #10 on: October 30, 2011, 09:11:24 AM »
>Head inside.
>Carry Orange across the threshold. "Are you ready, my dear?"
>Produce Rinosuke's list and scratch off the names we've visited tonight. Procuring a writing instrument if we've not one on our person.
>Search our room for any spare weapons we left behind when we left town the first time.

>You unlock the door and step inside. With the money you've earned and the treasure you've found, this ought to have been a triumphant return. Instead... Well, nothing for it now. Things are as they are. Your room is also about the same as you left it, aside from the color of the cauliflower on your table. You wrinkle your nose a little.
>"This is the happiest day of my life," she replies, smiling at you dreamily. "I shall live this moment over and over again in my heart."
>You take out Rinnosuke's list and fetch a pencil to cross off the names you've consulted tonight. That really is nearly all of the list, unfortunately.
>You've pretty confident that the 3 kunai you left with were all you had. Given that Seekers are essentially self-funded outside of a apprenticeship activities, your meager means didn't allow you to stockpile very much gear before officially starting your career. Of course, you have more than enough money to change that now...

Re: (Skyseas of Gensokyo) Nazrin Quest (Part 6)
« Reply #11 on: October 30, 2011, 09:37:11 AM »
>Add that to our list of things to do tomorrow morning, before meeting up with Yuugi and hopefully Professor Kamishirasawa.
>Prepare for bed, and lay down.
>In the event that, for one reason or another, we have to leave the island to find a cure, do we know what the going rates are for transport off the island?

Re: (Skyseas of Gensokyo) Nazrin Quest (Part 6)
« Reply #12 on: October 30, 2011, 10:15:13 PM »
>Add that to our list of things to do tomorrow morning, before meeting up with Yuugi and hopefully Professor Kamishirasawa.
>Prepare for bed, and lay down.
>In the event that, for one reason or another, we have to leave the island to find a cure, do we know what the going rates are for transport off the island?

>You make a note to look into better outfitting yourself tomorrow.
>Then you get ready for bed, changing into sleepwear and putting your borrowed clothes aside. You scrounge something to tie another secure binding around the hand gripping Kumokirimaru, and then slip under the covers.
>That depends very much on where you're going. Small ferries offering passage among the nearby islands might cost no more than 30 guilders up to somewhere in the 60 or so range for more distant parts of the Outer Freelands. Actually crossing the Great Expanse to where the larger nations lie, however, is a much longer and commensurately more expensive trip. Passage to Val Razua would likely cost around 200 guilders, and any of the other nations would be even more expensive.

>Despite your fatigue, sleep does not come easily. The issues of the day weigh heavily upon you, and the sword makes an uncomfortable companion in your bed. You adjust yourself an aggravating number of times while the evening's conversations and thoughts of your future play over and over in your head. Eventually your mind grows muffled as a heavy blackness descends upon it like a leaden blanket and you sink beneath it.

>You awaken many hours later, to the light of early morning streaming in through your window. Your side is cramped from how you apparently ended up lying on part of the sword, but otherwise you feel rested and in good health - better than yesterday, in fact.

Re: (Skyseas of Gensokyo) Nazrin Quest (Part 6)
« Reply #13 on: October 30, 2011, 11:54:02 PM »
>200 guilders. Small wonder Orange hasn't made it yet.
>Is that cauliflower all we have to eat here?

Re: (Skyseas of Gensokyo) Nazrin Quest (Part 6)
« Reply #14 on: October 31, 2011, 12:03:53 AM »
>200 guilders. Small wonder Orange hasn't made it yet.
>Is that cauliflower all we have to eat here?

>The passage isn't cheap, and that doesn't account for any other costs while there, of course. Orange's job may be steady, but you're pretty sure the pay isn't so hot either, once living expenses are taken out of it.
>Fortunately not. You still have some hard cheese and crackers left around.

Re: (Skyseas of Gensokyo) Nazrin Quest (Part 6)
« Reply #15 on: October 31, 2011, 12:11:54 AM »
>It's a start.
>Rise and make ready for the day.
>Kiss Orange gently on her dozing eyelids.
>Appraise the cauliflower, disposing of any bits that look a little ehhhhhhh, and supplement our cheese and crackers with the veggie.
>Once breakfast is finished, put the pencil in our pack in case we didn't have anything in it to write with already, then depart.

Re: (Skyseas of Gensokyo) Nazrin Quest (Part 6)
« Reply #16 on: October 31, 2011, 12:56:53 AM »
>It's a start.
>Rise and make ready for the day.
>Kiss Orange gently on her dozing eyelids.
>Appraise the cauliflower, disposing of any bits that look a little ehhhhhhh, and supplement our cheese and crackers with the veggie.
>Once breakfast is finished, put the pencil in our pack in case we didn't have anything in it to write with already, then depart.

>You rise and get ready for the day, switching into a new set of outdoor clothing which fit you rather better than the borrowed ones did. While in the process of dressing, your eye falls almost unavoidable at the marks of the blight upon your body. You're fairly certain they've grown slightly since yesterday, though the change is still small. Wait, is that...? You frown a little. Yes, there's definitely a new mark on your torso, just below your ribs on the left. It's only about a centimeter in diameter, but it absolutely was not visible when last you examined yourself. Dammit...
>She snores loudly and tries to swat you away, mumbling something incomprehensible.
>Putting that aside for the moment, you take a knife to the cauliflower in the hope of salvaging some of it. Unfortunately, it isn't long before you declare this a lost cause and put it aside. At least there wasn't very much of it left in the first place. You content yourself with the cheese and crackers, which honestly doesn't make a terrible start to the day, even if it's not quite as good as the last few breakfasts you've had.
>Once you finish, you take a pencil with you, grab your gear, and head out into the city. You've got work to do.

Re: (Skyseas of Gensokyo) Nazrin Quest (Part 6)
« Reply #17 on: October 31, 2011, 01:23:51 AM »
>Did that breakfast satisfy us? If not, head towards the guildhall to scrounge more food.
>If it did, hit up the next lead.

Re: (Skyseas of Gensokyo) Nazrin Quest (Part 6)
« Reply #18 on: October 31, 2011, 01:45:58 AM »
>Did that breakfast satisfy us? If not, head towards the guildhall to scrounge more food.
>If it did, hit up the next lead.

>It wasn't copious, but you think it'll last you for a bit.
>You take a look at your list and head towards one of the two remaining names on it. It is a fine morning out, and Braston is light and lively once more, its markets thick with people moving to and fro and merchants hawking their wares. Soon enough you find yourself in front of the right address. Unfortunately, while sleeping is less of an obstacle at this time of day, this does not guarantee contact, and indeed there is no answer to your knocking. However, this place looks to simply be a private dwelling and not a clinic or somesuch; it's possible the person is at work, if not simply off and about.

Re: (Skyseas of Gensokyo) Nazrin Quest (Part 6)
« Reply #19 on: October 31, 2011, 01:53:34 AM »
>Right. Last name, then.

Re: (Skyseas of Gensokyo) Nazrin Quest (Part 6)
« Reply #20 on: October 31, 2011, 02:05:59 AM »
>Right. Last name, then.

>You head towards the last name on the list - the one you failed to contact last night, in fact. That much at least is different this time; your knocking is answered by a rather thin man who ushers you into a small waiting room with uncomfortable chairs. There are a pair of people ahead of you, though the wait ends up being relatively brief. Still, you find your circumstances make you antsy; sitting around is really not what you want to be doing right now. Eventually, you are admitted to see the doctor, a tired-looking man with a staunchly neutral expression. He listens to your story and examines the marks on your skin with a cool professionalism. Unfortunately, he can do little more than prescribe some basic medications for infections - he gives you little confidence that they would be effective here - and suggest you consult with another physician.

Re: (Skyseas of Gensokyo) Nazrin Quest (Part 6)
« Reply #21 on: October 31, 2011, 02:41:13 AM »
>Depart, and take our medicine. Which we had to have done last night as well, we wouldn't forget that.
>Well, then. If that's our list. Back to the guildhall, check our messages.

Re: (Skyseas of Gensokyo) Nazrin Quest (Part 6)
« Reply #22 on: October 31, 2011, 03:01:47 AM »
>Depart, and take our medicine. Which we had to have done last night as well, we wouldn't forget that.
>Well, then. If that's our list. Back to the guildhall, check our messages.

>You depart and once some distance outside, retrieve the bottle of medicine Minoriko gave you from your pack and take your twice-daily dose. It is as potent and earthy-tasting as ever, making you wish you had something else to wash it down with. Perhaps you should make sure to have something on hand for that the next time... Ugh...
>With the unpleasant taste clinging tightly to your mouth and throat, you cover the short distance back to the guildhall and step inside.
>It seems Sashiko is on front desk duty again today. She greets you with a hint of a wave and a friendly nod. "Morning."

Re: (Skyseas of Gensokyo) Nazrin Quest (Part 6)
« Reply #23 on: October 31, 2011, 03:39:32 AM »
>"G'morning."
>"Here to check my messages today, if any's left for me."

Re: (Skyseas of Gensokyo) Nazrin Quest (Part 6)
« Reply #24 on: October 31, 2011, 03:43:25 AM »
>"G'morning."
>"Here to check my messages today, if any's left for me."

>"Let me see..." she says, leafing through a divided folder box. "Nope, don't see anything. Were you expecting something?" she asks, looking back at you.

Re: (Skyseas of Gensokyo) Nazrin Quest (Part 6)
« Reply #25 on: October 31, 2011, 03:53:28 AM »
>Frown.
>"Yeah, from the archaeology crew working up north."

Re: (Skyseas of Gensokyo) Nazrin Quest (Part 6)
« Reply #26 on: October 31, 2011, 03:57:45 AM »
>Frown.
>"Yeah, from the archaeology crew working up north."

>"Oh, huh." She takes another look through the files. "Don't see anything from them in here, and I've been on duty since we opened this morning; no one from there's come by, I'm pretty sure."

Re: (Skyseas of Gensokyo) Nazrin Quest (Part 6)
« Reply #27 on: October 31, 2011, 04:31:14 AM »
>Hm... Current time.

Re: (Skyseas of Gensokyo) Nazrin Quest (Part 6)
« Reply #28 on: October 31, 2011, 04:35:50 AM »
>Hm... Current time.

>It's probably not much later than 10 AM.

Re: (Skyseas of Gensokyo) Nazrin Quest (Part 6)
« Reply #29 on: October 31, 2011, 05:27:38 AM »
>Well, good a time as any to to restock our gear.
>"Well, if anyone from them comes looking for me, tell them I'm still in town. They'll know what that means."
>Depart and make for that joint that deals with Seekers, that gives us deals on climbing gear, that sort of thing.
« Last Edit: October 31, 2011, 05:45:09 AM by Old Man Sour »