Maidens of the Kaleidoscope
~Beyond the Border~ => Rumia's Party Games => Mystia's Stored Games => Topic started by: Oldmansour on June 29, 2015, 08:01:26 PM
-
>You are Byakuren Hijiri, 18 years old, resident of the city of Mayoiga, caretaker (owner) of Rin Kaenbyou, resident of the Moonside apartments, and third year student of Mayoiga High. A few days ago, you were the most popular girl in school, one of the most well-known and liked girls around town. And then you touched a strange doll, and saw a world not your own. That was the day that everything changed, and you became Magical Lotus, the Hero of the Heart.
>As trying as yesterday yes for you, today has been every bit as bad, if not more so. Granted, it started off well, with the arrival of a new neighbor into Moonside Apartments, one Sanae Kochiya, a new transfer student and friend. But while you were welcoming her to the neighborhood, you detected a connection between the captive Champion of Water and Patchouli Knowledge, a connection that was eroding the walls of Water's cell. And to make matters worse, the Champion of Air decided to pay you a visit. Despite your attempts to intercept her before she reached Moonside, she did eventually encounter Sanae, with whom she shared a connection similar to that between Patchy and Louise. Sanae, it turned out, was the Avatar of Air, her heart connected to that of Elis'. Now she shares the power of Makai and seems to have undergone a dramatic shift in personality.
>Although you might have been able to keep Patchouli and Louise separate, the enforced separation seemed to be having serious consequences for the both of them. Feeling that their lives may have been at risk, you brought Patchy into the Oubliette, and the connection between the two was finalized. Patchouli became the Avatar of Water. But while the first thing Sanae did was fulfill her lifelong dream of flying, Patchy's anger and resentment towards her parents boiled over, and while you were able to take some of the edge off of it, you were unable to dissuade her from her course. The newly minted Water Avatar took off into the sky, murder on her mind.
>For reasons you don't entirely understand, Louise did nothing to stop you from going after Patchouli. In fact, she almost seemed to encourage it. And nor, thus far, has she escaped from the Oubliette, despite Patchy knocking a very sizable hole in the walls of the dimensional jail.
>Back in reality, you took Reisen aside to give her a brief update on what had occurred. This conversation led to her gaining a ring of her own, one of yours, becoming Magical Poppy. While you felt guilty about recruiting the former soldier, you knew she would want to help Patcholi, and she's going to need power to do it. And now, with her help, you and your other allies, Lily and White Rose, are attempting a new and untested power, in the hope that you can get ahead of The Avatar of Water, to keep her from passing what may be the point of no return...
>Do we think we should get that image directly from Lily first, or should that be handled during the power linking and magic-weaving part of the process?
>Is there anything else in particular we'll need to do beyond the whole 'hold hands, join power, focus, and exert a lot of will?' bit?
>If you're right, it would be best to do it all at once.
>That should be sufficient. Just make sure to try and balance the energy flow between the four of you, or this spell could take more out of you than you want it to.
-
>"Focus and will."
>Let's link our hands together and connect our powers
>"I will lead, but I'll need all of your help to shoulder the burden. Are you ready?"
-
>"Focus and will."
>Let's link our hands together and connect our powers
>"I will lead, but I'll need all of your help to shoulder the burden. Are you ready?"
>"Always." White Rose says quickly.
>"Ready and willing!" Lily adds.
>Poppy sighs. "As I'm going to be."
-
>Nod
>"Then let's begin."
>Teleportation ritual: commence!
-
>Nod
>"Then let's begin."
>Teleportation ritual: commence!
>Despite her inexperience and her seemingly reflexive hesitation, Reisen seems to have no real trouble syncing your power with yours. She seems comfortable with you and especially Rin, though a bit less so with Lily. You expect that will change with time. Lily's a hard person to stay uncomfortable around. But the power flows from your comrades into your hands as, with your ring linked with Lily's once more, the image of Patchouli's family home comes into your mind. Along with some slight, faint images of frolicking rabbits and dancing butterflies. It IS Lily, after all, but you do get a good image of the Knowledge manor. It's a very European design, all blue stone and white marble with a slate roof. But even through Lily's eyes, the place does look a bit unwelcoming. The wrought iron fence encircling the place is evidence of that, and the tended grounds of the place seemed to indicate not so much a love of aesthetics, but a desire to set its owners apart from the people around them.
>While you would much prefer to have a target on the ground for this spell, since you can't be sure there won't be someone on the other end when you materialize, you settle for a spot around sixty or so feet off the ground. You'd prefer to have some water to land in in the even things go wrong, but there are no ponds or pools in evidence, and the marble fountain in the front drive isn't the best target either.
>And with that image firmly in mind (as firmly as you can make an unoccupied spot of open air) you take hold of the power given to you by your allies, and will yourself across the city.
>The sensation is not the most pleasant one in the world, if you're honest. For a moment, you're certain you've left a few bits of yourself behind, and there is a distinct stretching sensation, as though your whole body was made of putty and being pulled on by a determined teenager. Unlike the rainbow road leading down to the Oubliette, your vision is filled with blinding white, purple and pink streaks of light.
>And then these sensations fade as you return to reality, and immediately, the absence of anything solid beneath your feet makes you start to plummet.
-
>Quickly conjure another flying disc beneath us to catch our fall - and make sure to catch Reisen as well, just in case she can't come up with her own solution to this. Well, Rin can probably handle herself, but still spare a look afterward in case she can't. Lily's obviously fine.
>I mean, assuming the gang's all here properly!
-
>Quickly conjure another flying disc beneath us to catch our fall - and make sure to catch Reisen as well, just in case she can't come up with her own solution to this. Well, Rin can probably handle herself, but still spare a look afterward in case she can't. Lily's obviously fine.
>I mean, assuming the gang's all here properly!
>It takes you a brief moment to adjust to the sensation of being in mid-air, and to get your wind back. Your prediction was right, the act of transporting yourself and your comrades was a tiring one. You avoid looking down, as the sensation of falling is disconcerting enough, and you don't need to make it any worse. After a moment's flailing, you manage to conjure up a disc big enough for you and indeed Reisen, as she seems to recover a little less quickly than you do. White Rose, who is here as well, actually activates her stepping disc before you do, and throws one beneath you as you form your own to field Poppy. And Lily is, of course, fine, as you predicted.
>And then you notice the sounds of grinding metal from beneath you, accompanied by a woman's voice cursing in Moscovian.
-
>Quickly survey the situation below
-
>Quickly survey the situation below
>Below you, standing a few feet in front of the Knowledge's gate, is a shrine maiden in the silver colored hakama of the Tiger shrine. It is Anya, the leopard youkai, and she has seen action. Her clothing is dripping wet and damaged in places, and there is a large gash on her right arm, as well as over her left ribcage.
>The source of that damage is not too hard to spot. Floating about a hundred feet in the air in front of the shrine maiden is the Avatar of Water, surrounded by that aura of power, two large sphere of energy floating on either side of her. "I will not be be denied!" she roars at the feline miko before hurling the energy orbs at her.
-
>Fly towards them and intercept Patchouli's attack with a Sapphire Lotus
>"Anya! What are you doing here?"
-
>Fly towards them and intercept Patchouli's attack with a Sapphire Lotus
>"Anya! What are you doing here?"
>Although your flight speed is slower than normal, due to carrying Reisen with you, your power's speed is not impeded, and as you send out a sapphire barrier, Poppy raises her hand and yells, "Caster: Safety Wall!" A shimmering red and blue shield appears in the air before Anya. Your Lotus blocks one of Patchy's attacks, while Reisen handles the other. And you're thankful for it, because the impact the Avatar's attack sends through your Sapphire Lotus is a significant one, and surprisingly hot as well.
>The miko points up at Patchouli. "That woman has assaulted a miko of the Bird shrine. She will answer for it."
>"Not to you." The Avatar snarls, electricity crackling along her aura. "Not to anyone. I answer to NO ONE!" Her scream is punctuated by jagged fingers of lightning cascading out from her body.
-
>Can we tell what she is aiming at? Or does it not seem like this is aimed at anyone in particular?
-
>Can we tell what she is aiming at? Or does it not seem like this is aimed at anyone in particular?
>While the lightning doesn't seem to have specific targets, at least one of them is heading towards you, or possibly Anya. Its course is somewhat random. The others don't appear to be menacing anyone.
-
>Keep a shield close to the both of us, in case it arcs in that direction, but don't waste power catching things that might course away harmlessly
>"Assaulted who? What happened before we got here?"
-
>Keep a shield close to the both of us, in case it arcs in that direction, but don't waste power catching things that might course away harmlessly
>"Assaulted who? What happened before we got here?"
>"Shrines stepped up patrols after last night." she says as she produces a paper charm. In response to the incoming lightning, Reisen throws out another one of her shields, which explodes upon impact with the electric strike but does stop it from harming anyone. "Sister from Bird shrine saw that woman, tried to question her. Woman attacked Sister."
>"She got in my way." The Avatar of Water growls, her hand glowing, preparing another strike. "Nobody will stand in my.... my...." She trails off as her eyes fall upon Magical Poppy, narrowing for a moment before widening in disbelief. "It can't be."
-
>Give her another brief moment, just to make sure she really has seen through the guise, and isn't leaping to some different conclusion
>But assuming that is what it still seems like, message Reisen: Tell her why you've come here. She claimed vengeance on your behalf as well, you know - against the people that have used you, that have hurt you. She believed it was something you would have wanted. Is she right?
-
>Give her another brief moment, just to make sure she really has seen through the guise, and isn't leaping to some different conclusion
>But assuming that is what it still seems like, message Reisen: Tell her why you've come here. She claimed vengeance on your behalf as well, you know - against the people that have used you, that have hurt you. She believed it was something you would have wanted. Is she right?
>Patchouli's hesitation gives the shrine maiden a chance to strike. With a brief incantation, she hurls her talisman up at Patchouli, the paper glowing silver as it flies. The charm expands into an amorphous mass of a silvery compound, which grows and engulfs the Avatar of Water.
>"What was that?" White Rose yells down at Anya.
>"Containment gel. Hold her for now." the miko explains as Patchouli thrashes within the goop. "Who is this woman?"
-
>Did we actually get that message off to Reisen or no?
>"She is... she is a friend of ours. But the power she is touched by has affected her personality; I swear she is not a violent person, normally."
-
>Did we actually get that message off to Reisen or no?
>"She is... she is a friend of ours. But the power she is touched by has affected her personality; I swear she is not a violent person, normally."
>Yes. She just didn't have time to answer before Anya used her magic on Patchy. Successfully, as well, by the look of it
>"Violence follows you." the sour faced miko observes.
>As for Reisen, she looks sadly upon the trapped Avatar, and shakes her head. Vengeance? No. I'm... tired of seeing people hurt.
-
>"More like we follow it. We knew she was coming here; we wanted to make sure she did not do something that cannot be undone. Something the woman she was would regret."
>"Is the other miko alright?"
>I tried to tell her, but she wouldn't listen. Wanted to repay the hurts done to you, tenfold. There is so much anger in her right now that I am not sure she could see how you would not want suffering visited upon those who brought you suffering, any more than a starving person would not want to eat.
-
>"More like we follow it. We knew she was coming here; we wanted to make sure she did not do something that cannot be undone. Something the woman she was would regret."
>"Is the other miko alright?"
>I tried to tell her, but she wouldn't listen. Wanted to repay the hurts done to you, tenfold. There is so much anger in her right now that I am not sure she could see how you would not want suffering visited upon those who brought you suffering, any more than a starving person would not want to eat.
>"Not sure. I did not have time to check. She moves fast."
>Even I didn't know how deep her anger ran. Or... Reisen's red eyes harden. Is it this power that did this to her?
-
>Did Patchouli's power give off a similar sense of resentment and isolation that Sanae's did?
>How similar/different was our impression of it compared to the rings Water made for Kiku and that other woman in the CRA?
-
>Did Patchouli's power give off a similar sense of resentment and isolation that Sanae's did?
>How similar/different was our impression of it compared to the rings Water made for Kiku and that other woman in the CRA?
>Not entirely. Both Patchouli's and Sanae's power comes from the dark places of the heart, the negative emotions the lurk within that can dominate a life if left unchecked. But Patchouli's ring carries a sense of abandonment, a hollow sensation. An long-standing emptiness that has been filled with the rage she holds.
>Completely different.
-
>I do not know the full extent of what becoming an Avatar does to a person. Sanae seemed to remember things she had not known until then, while Patchouli spoke only of hurts I knew she had suffered. But I do not think they were like this. I do not think this is just a result of gaining power to strike back at her resentments, but as though those wounds she had have been heightened somehow. I wish I understood it better; I might have a better idea how to help her.
-
>I do not know the full extent of what becoming an Avatar does to a person. Sanae seemed to remember things she had not known until then, while Patchouli spoke only of hurts I knew she had suffered. But I do not think they were like this. I do not think this is just a result of gaining power to strike back at her resentments, but as though those wounds she had have been heightened somehow. I wish I understood it better; I might have a better idea how to help her.
>Hopefully we can ask her once this is over.
>"Where did the other miko fight her?" Lily asks Anya while you speak to Reisen.
>The metal miko points to the west. "Next to bakery that way."
>Lily calls down to you, "Want me to check it out?"
>"I don't think you'll get the chance, look!" White Rose yells, pointing at the metallic goo surrounding Patchouli. The goo is boiling.
-
>Unsurprising. Nothing's that easy these days.
>If we had a few uninterrupted moments, do we think we could form some kind of energy cage around Patchouli that would be more efficient at absorbing blows than what shields we can construct on the fly? Not necessarily something that could hold her for very long, but which would cost her more energy to punch through than it cost us to set up? Maybe if we pooled our power to do it?
-
>Unsurprising. Nothing's that easy these days.
>If we had a few uninterrupted moments, do we think we could form some kind of energy cage around Patchouli that would be more efficient at absorbing blows than what shields we can construct on the fly? Not necessarily something that could hold her for very long, but which would cost her more energy to punch through than it cost us to set up? Maybe if we pooled our power to do it?
>Given how effective earth magic has been against Makai powers so far, it's remarkable Anya's spell held the Avatar that long.
>You could, but you're not sure if you could do that without taking a lot of backlash from Patchy's attempts to break the cage. On the other hand, though, Lily should be able to. Her Petal Cyclone is designed to contain an enemy rather than damage it, it only serves to add to the damaging effects of yours and Rin's spells when she uses it in concert with yours. And likewise, Reisen didn't seem to show any signs of shock when she used those Wall spells of hers to block Patchy's attacks. If you pooled your energy with either one of them, you might be able to generate a cage around Patchy that would be a task for her to break, without having any severe repercussions on you or your allies. Apart from the energy expended, of course.
-
>Can we make even a rough estimate whether the process would be more tiring for us or for Patchy, given what we've seen so far?
>Do we have any sense that our Violet Lotus could accomplish anything against the dark emotions powering Patchouli? They're certainly not as pure as with youma, but do we think there's anything that our power might be even a little effective at softening?
-
>Can we make even a rough estimate whether the process would be more tiring for us or for Patchy, given what we've seen so far?
>Do we have any sense that our Violet Lotus could accomplish anything against the dark emotions powering Patchouli? They're certainly not as pure as with youma, but do we think there's anything that our power might be even a little effective at softening?
>Difficult to say without knowing just how deep Patchouli's power reserves are.
>It depends on whether or not the emotions are natural to her, or if they've been forced upon her by either the ring or the connection with Water or both. Your Violet Light was able to at least lessen the effects of the negative emotions affecting Kiku when the Water Champion was trying to recruit her, because those emotions were being manipulated by Water herself. But if these emotions really are Patchouli's own, your own power might not be able to affect them.
-
>Quickly run this idea past our allies, see which feels more comfortable taking the lead with this, and then try to quickly erect one before Patchouli breaks free of the containment gel. If we can specify, translucent would be nice, so that one of us could theoretically have a conversation with her while contained. Assuming any part of this works at all, of course.
-
>Quickly run this idea past our allies, see which feels more comfortable taking the lead with this, and then try to quickly erect one before Patchouli breaks free of the containment gel. If we can specify, translucent would be nice, so that one of us could theoretically have a conversation with her while contained. Assuming any part of this works at all, of course.
>I can do that. Lily says confidently.
>White Rose gives her a nod. We'd better hurry. she adds, noting that the boiling metal surrounding Patchouli has begun to run like cold water. Anya is chanting again, trying to reinforce the spell, but the power emanating from the Avatar of Water is far beyond that of the metal miko. Even Kiku's magic couldn't hold her for long.
>So, delaying no longer, Lily brings her hands up and evokes her own spell, "Spring Lily Petal Cyclone!", sending a twisting column of flowers petals at the Water Avatar. Rin adds her own spell to the effort, casting "White Retainer's Flame Haze.", sending a gauzy screen of smoky flame from her fingers out to meet Lily's flowers. You add your own Sapphire Lotus, while Reisen adds: "Caster: Flame Wall". The three powers unite with Lily's, creating a burning column of intensely glowing flower petals, all linked together by thin filaments of blue light. The triply reinforced Petal Cyclone encircles the Avatar of Water, trapping her with a cylindrical column of twisting petals.
>And just in time as well. The rest of the molten metal sloughs off of Patchouli like slurry, until a flaming aura of power can be seen beneath. The aura erupts outward, hurling the molten metal away from the Avatar of Water. However, both are stopped by the Petal Cyclone Patchouli is now trapped within. The purple haired avatar stares incredulously as the metal disappears back into the nothingness from whence Anya summoned, and her aura dims. Experimentally, she presses her hand against the Cyclone, and then screams her frustration.
-
>To Reisen: Go on, tell her what you told me. That you're tired of seeing people hurt. If she really can recognize you in this form, perhaps she'll even listen.
-
>To Reisen: Go on, tell her what you told me. That you're tired of seeing people hurt. If she really can recognize you in this form, perhaps she'll even listen.
>The rabbit looks at the savage frustration on Patchouli's face as the Avatar howls again. Her eyes discharge blasts of lighting at the Cyclone, which dissipate against the screen. I don't even know if she'd hear me right now. We need something else, something that might help us get through to her... The rabbit ponders for a minute, then asks a very surprising question. Are you opposed to Rin attempting a little stealing?
-
>Um, what did you have in mind?
-
>Um, what did you have in mind?
>My ownership papers. Reisen replies. Patchouli wants to take ownership of me from her parents. If she sees those papers, if she sees us offer them to her, it might calm her down. At least, a little. I hope. she finishes quietly.
-
>Do you know where they could be found?
-
>Do you know where they could be found?
>Yes.
-
>And are you okay with this yourself, under present circumstances? Being owned by Patchouli, I mean?
>Rin could not be emancipated because that would give Konngara a ground to immediately reclaim her, right? Does anything even comparable exist for Reisen, short of Patchouli's parents not being WILLING to free her from slavery? Could she not just be made a free woman outright?
-
>And are you okay with this yourself, under present circumstances? Being owned by Patchouli, I mean?
>Rin could not be emancipated because that would give Konngara a ground to immediately reclaim her, right? Does anything even comparable exist for Reisen, short of Patchouli's parents not being WILLING to free her from slavery? Could she not just be made a free woman outright?
>Reisen smiles, almost sadly. I've toiled under crueler masters.
>Konngara, or any other Oni that came along and wanted to claim her. But Reisen on the other hand could very well be a different story. It depends on the circumstances of her enslavement. She may not be holden to the same code that binds Rin and those like her.
-
>Well, I'm not okay with that if you have any sort of resignation about this. Can you not be freed outright?
-
>Well, I'm not okay with that if you have any sort of resignation about this. Can you not be freed outright?
>It's not that simple.
-
>Then what about it's so complicated? If there's something that needs to be done, I'll do it.
-
>Then what about it's so complicated? If there's something that needs to be done, I'll do it.
>No, it's not like that. She winces. It's complicated.
>"I will not be caged!" Patchouli screams, punching the Cyclone wall with a magically charged fist, and then again. "I will not be controlled!"
>Never mind. Reisen adds. I don't think Rin'll have time.
-
>I fully support extricating you from your current owners, but so long as Patchouli remains as she is, I don't want to see you simply handed over to another harsh mistress. I don't want to see you have to bear yet another burden because it seems necessary, unless that is truly what you wish.
>"Patchouli! You attacked two women who committed no crimes against you, and are claiming vengeance in the name of a woman who does not even wish this! Is this really what you want? You're already hurting someone you care about and you've barely even begun!"
-
>I fully support extricating you from your current owners, but so long as Patchouli remains as she is, I don't want to see you simply handed over to another harsh mistress. I don't want to see you have to bear yet another burden because it seems necessary, unless that is truly what you wish.
>"Patchouli! You attacked two women who committed no crimes against you, and are claiming vengeance in the name of a woman who does not even wish this! Is this really what you want? You're already hurting someone you care about and you've barely even begun!"
>The rabbit looks away for a moment, before she looks into your eyes and says, What I truly wish, Byakuren, is to do something good. Finally do something good.
>"I will not be contained!" Patchouli howls in reply, sending another bolt of power at the Cyclone. "I will not be suppressed!" Another bolt. "I will not be held down!" Another.
>I don't know how much longer that's gonna hold. Lily says worriedly.
>Reisen steels herself. I'm going to try and get her attention, maybe get through to her. But, uh, be ready to cover me, okay?
-
>Absolutely.
>Be ready!
-
>Absolutely.
>Be ready!
>Reisen takes a breath. "Lunar Spectrum Shift - Glider."
>The rabbit's clothes emit a pale white glow that, when it passes, reveals an entirely new look for her. She now sports a green and brown sundress with a white floral pattern along the hemlines. Her collar now holds a pale white gem instead of a red one. She has neither gloves nor boots, only a long white ribbon tied around her left ankle and a black ribbon of matching length around her right wrist. And as she steps off the flying disc you ride, a set of diaphanous light purple wings with a green, black and brown pattern unfold from her back, like a great butterfly.
>How'd you do that? Lily broadcasts as Poppy flutters down towards Patchouli, trailing golden dust behind her wings. How'd she do that, can we do that?
-
>Can we?
-
>Can we?
>Not as far as you know. But then again, you've never tried to before.
-
>Um, I've never really put my mind to such a thing before.
-
>Um, I've never really put my mind to such a thing before.
>Oh we have got to try that! Lily chirps.
>Is this really the best time to think about magical cosplay? Rin asks her wryly.
>And why shouldn't we? the blonde demands with fierce seriousness. It's totally not fair that Reisen gets to be the only one to do that.
>While this enlightening exchange is taking place, Reisen settles down in front of the Avatar of Water. The mage punches the Cyclone wall one more time, but as she draws her fist back again, her eyes, still crackling with electrical power, fall upon the now-winged rabbit, and narrow once more. After a very long moment, the Avatar says rather quietly, "It is you, isn't it?"
>Reisen nods gently. "Yes, Patchouli. It's me."
>"Don't call me that now. I am the Avatar of Water. Have you come to help me?" she asks eagerly. "Have you come to free me?"
>Magical Poppy hesitates, and glances up at you, wondering how to answer.
-
>Tell her what it is you want. How you feel about her killing others in your name, for the harm they've done to you.
-
>Tell her what it is you want. How you feel about her killing others in your name, for the harm they've done to you.
>The rabbit seems encouraged by your words, and turns back to Patchouli, shaking her head slightly. "I came because I thought you needed my help. You know I always tried to keep you safe."
>"Yeah. But you aren't going to let me out, are you."
>Reisen hesitates, then shakes her head again, once. "I don't.... think I should. What you're doing-"
>"In that case," Patchouli interrupts, her power building up again, her face twisting into a mad grin. "I'd back up a little if I were you."
>Something in that look makes Reisen's face pale, and she turns quickly and starts to fly away, towards the Knowledge manor, screaming out, "RUN!"
-
>How close are we to Patchouli, relative to Reisen?
>Is there anything else apparently important in Patchouli's immediate vicinity?
>And where is Anya?
>Do we actually get a sense that whatever she's going to hit it with this time is of a different magnitude than before? Jumpy rabbit aside?
-
>How close are we to Patchouli, relative to Reisen?
>Is there anything else apparently important in Patchouli's immediate vicinity?
>And where is Anya?
>Do we actually get a sense that whatever she's going to hit it with this time is of a different magnitude than before? Jumpy rabbit aside?
>Reisen's about ten feet away from Patchy right now, and that distance is growing. You're about thirty or so feet away, above Patchy and just to her left.
>No. She is in open air.
>Still standing in front of the Knowledge's gate, about 120 or so feet away from Patchy.
>She is definately building up power. Whatever she's going to unleash isn't going to be random energy blasts or charged punches.
-
>Let's back up towards the mansion a bit, and be prepared to make a break for it if we have to, but for the moment continue to closely observe what Patchouli is doing rather than running full speed away
-
>Let's back up towards the mansion a bit, and be prepared to make a break for it if we have to, but for the moment continue to closely observe what Patchouli is doing rather than running full speed away
>Heeding Reisen's warning, you backpeddle a bit through the air while keeping a close eye on the Avatar of Water. As you do so, White Rose and Lily fall in on either side of you. In case we need to pool powers. the blonde explains as Patchouli's energy grows, her body transforming once again into a dark blue sphere of light, but growing this time, pressing against the walls of the Cyclone, making them bow out like a bottle filled too full.
>As for Anya, she does not take Reisen's advice, and stays right where she is. She does, however, cast another spell. A paper charm floats up over her head and expands out into a dome of iron. The Moscovian miko may not be as powerful a spellcaster as Kiku, but she does have a trick or two up her sleeve. As far as you can tell, that iron shell of hers should be able to hold up against some decent firepower.
>And boy, does Patchouli have some firepower to bear. The sensation you get from her is the perfect example of what it must be like to try and keep lightning bottled. The power she has built up is now greater than that which Elis used when she was hurling lightning at you. Rin looks upon that viciously glowing sphere and says, quickly, We're gonna need to shield or run.
-
>Can we actually fire through our own barrier here?
>And if so, do we think Indigo Lotus could accomplish anything against the power she's building?
-
>Can we actually fire through our own barrier here?
>And if so, do we think Indigo Lotus could accomplish anything against the power she's building?
>No. There would need to be some kind of hole in it to shoot through, which there doesn't seem to be.
>If she does something similar later, though, Indigo Lotus probably would be effective. It worked wonders against the Champion of Water, there's no reason to think it wouldn't work against her Avatar as well.
-
>Do we have enough control over the barrier to selectively open a small hole somewhere?
-
>Do we have enough control over the barrier to selectively open a small hole somewhere?
>You would need to join your will with your comrades again. It was the four of you who created that amplified Cyclone, it would take the four of you to manipulate it.
-
>Do we think we think we could even have enough time to open up a precise hole now, before she blows the whole thing up?
>Alternatively, do we think could open a larger hole specifically on the side facing away from everyone, to cause the power which is bulging the barrier to simply surge out through what is now the weakest spot and primarily blast away from everyone? Like, something angled upwards?
-
>Do we think we think we could even have enough time to open up a precise hole now, before she blows the whole thing up?
>Alternatively, do we think could open a larger hole specifically on the side facing away from everyone, to cause the power which is bulging the barrier to simply surge out through what is now the weakest spot and primarily blast away from everyone? Like, something angled upwards?
>Not with Reisen still trying to get as much distance as she can. By the time she focused her attention on the Cyclone, Patchouli will have broken free, you're quite sure.
>Now, that might work. While you'd need your three friends to manipulate the Cyclone, you wouldn't need them to damage it yourself. A well aimed shot near the top of the cyclone could very well have the effect of uncorking the Avatar, leaving her to, hopefully at least, expel her energy upwards rather than in any other direction.
>However, a Scarlet Lotus might not be precise enough for that kind of shot. You'd ideally like to have a beam, or a single burst of energy, rather than the shotgun-like effect of the Scarlet Lotus.
-
>Do we think we have something on-tap that would fit the bill better? Or one of our companions?
-
>Do we think we have something on-tap that would fit the bill better? Or one of our companions?
>Vermillion Lotus might do the trick.
-
>Going to try and blow a hole in the top; let the blast out away from us.
>Take a quick shot with Vermillion Lotus, aimed to vent the pent-up energy away from us as much as we can
>Then quickly put some more distance between us and it anyway
-
>Going to try and blow a hole in the top; let the blast out away from us.
>Take a quick shot with Vermillion Lotus, aimed to vent the pent-up energy away from us as much as we can
>Then quickly put some more distance between us and it anyway
>You can do that? Lily asks.
>If she says she can. Rin replies with a confidant smile, as you point your scepter at the top of the bulging Cyclone, an unleash the thermal lance of Vermillion Lotus. The hot beam slices the top off the Cyclone holding the Avatar, who bursts out of her containment cylinder with a tremendous explosion of energy and water, the latter of which drips down off the petals of the cyclone as they dissipate into the air, Lily's magic expiring.
>But the Avatar does not stop rising as you put some more distance between you and her of your own accord. Patchouli flies another hundred or so feet into the air before she stops. The blue sphere of energy spins in place, and even from this distance you can hear Patchouli yell, "Dark Water Monsoon!" The spinning sphere of power that is the Avatar of Water discharges dozens, then hundreds of bolts of chaotic water-elemental energy, like deadly rain. Some head down towards the surface, towards the fence, the gate, the street, the iron-warden metal miko. Others have a less steep angle, heading towards the grounds of the Knowledge Manor, the walk, the drive, and of course, you and your allies.
-
>Quickly appraise the blast zone. Does this reach far enough away from the grounds that it looks like it could endanger anyone else? Poor passersby on the other side of the street?
>How quickly are the bolts flying? Do we think we could outrun them?
>Is there any spot nearby that seems like the angle between Patchouli and the surrounding terrain would minimize the number of bolts that could strike us directly?
-
>Quickly appraise the blast zone. Does this reach far enough away from the grounds that it looks like it could endanger anyone else? Poor passersby on the other side of the street?
>How quickly are the bolts flying? Do we think we could outrun them?
>Is there any spot nearby that seems like the angle between Patchouli and the surrounding terrain would minimize the number of bolts that could strike us directly?
>Fortunately for you, there does not appear to be any bystander traffic in the vicinity. And all of Patchouli's shots are aimed at least slightly forward from her as well. You don't think any of them will carry on forward to the manor, either. Based on your observations, the only ones at risk are yourself, your allies and Anya.
>You're pretty sure Lily could, and Reisen's Glider mode seems to have nearly as much speed as the blonde. Yourself and Rin, you're less confidant about. You think the both of you could, but it would be close.
>The simplest way to avoid the most shots you could would be to fly up, since the Monsoon is headed to ground. You'd have to block or dodge at least some bolts, certainly, but not nearly as many as you'd have to closer to ground.
-
>Then let's fly upward and away at best speed, keeping an eye out for incoming fire to dodge or shield as appropriate (favoring the former where possible)
-
>Then let's fly upward and away at best speed, keeping an eye out for incoming fire to dodge or shield as appropriate (favoring the former where possible)
>With your two wingmen flanking you, you opt for the simplest option and make for the sky. There may be less shots to dodge this way, but that doesn't make the task easy. You hear Lily activate her Leaf Shield as the Monsoon of the Water Avatar streaks in towards you. You navigate your disc left, then dip down beneath another shot, a sideslip to the right to evade a third. A near miss, that time. It soon becomes apparant that even though you and Rin are using similar equipment to fly, you don't have quite the same knack for evasive flying that she does, a point reinforced by another very near miss by a bolt that flies by your right ear. You'd be much more confortable trying this on the ground.
>Despite your need to focus, a massive detonation from the ground draws your attention for a moment. Patchouli's aquatic energy barrage has blasted the heavy wrought iron gate apart, and blown Anya's iron shell back through the opening like a metallic golf ball. The shell is obviously damaged, but you don't have the time to gauge how badly before you hear White Rose yell "Watch it!" The kasha darts up in front of you, interposing her flying disc between your person and a power shot, her disc cracking under the small explosion caused by the impact. Rin immediately takes another shot for you on the shiled, and you decide that enough's enough. Pointing your scepter over your Rin's shoulder, you evoke a broad Sapphire Lotus before the both of you, blocking a number of bolts from striking either of you. This is somewhat unpleasant, but far less so than any of the alternatives.
>And then you are above the storm, the few remaining shots headed towards the ground at an angle to steep to menace you or Rin.
-
>Is Patchouli still firing, even if we're no longer really in the blast range?
>Status check on our other allies
-
>Is Patchouli still firing, even if we're no longer really in the blast range?
>Status check on our other allies
>She doesn't appear to be. She's still up there, but she's no longer in her 'ball of light' form. And although her power aura is still present, she doesn't give you the impression that she's about to fire again.
>Lily is standing a couple of dozen feet off your left wing. Her shield is glowing blue, so she obviously took at least one hit, but she herself is undamaged. Rin's flying disc is badly cracked, but she herself doesn't seem to be... No wait, there's a small burn mark on her upper left arm. One of the explosions from the shots she blocked must have caused some splash damage that got around her disc. But other than that, she appears fine.
>Anya, on the other hand, has obviously had a worser time. Her dome of iron has come to rest on the now-pockmarked drive almost 60 feet inside the gate, and has been blown open, resembling a torn tin can. The miko herself has partly crawled out of her wrecked protective shell, bleeding from new wounds on her arm and apparantly on her head, but still conscious and very alive.
>Magical Poppy, it seems, was unable to completely evade Patchouli's barrage. She is on the ground as well, on the grass about 8 feet to Anya's northeast. She doesn't appear to be bleeding, and she is trying to get to her feet, but smoke is rising from her body and her clothes are damaged.
-
>
Clothing damage. Of course Reisen would be the one to get clothing damage.
>To Reisen: Are you alright?
>That Tranquility Zone we used against Elis - how quickly could we move it around?
>Can we envision any technique we could apply that could cause a sort of 'power leakage' to its target? Either passively sap them, or make magic (perhaps especially destructive ones?) more effortful to cast?
>...speaking of which, how flexible can we set the purpose of our Orange Lotus? Do we think it could safely siphon power from Patchouli as it did against the horse youma?
-
>Goddamnit Reisen
-
>Clothing damage. Of course Reisen would be the one to get clothing damage.
>And then Rin's dress explodes. Happy now?
>That Tranquility Zone we used against Elis - how quickly could we move it around?
>Can we envision any technique we could apply that could cause a sort of 'power leakage' to its target? Either passively sap them, or make magic (perhaps especially destructive ones?) more effortful to cast?
>...speaking of which, how flexible can we set the purpose of our Orange Lotus? Do we think it could safely siphon power from Patchouli as it did against the horse youma?
>At the moment, you can't. You are at present capable only of generating a stationary zone.
>Other than your Orange Lotus?
>Provided you can hit her with it, yes.
>To Reisen: Are you alright?
>Reisen replies with a groan. Wasn't as fast as I thought...
>Goddamnit Reisen
>Lancer scowls. "What, forgot about me?"
-
>How big a tranquility zone do we think we could generate? Or would making it very large also reduce the power of it significantly?
-
>How big a tranquility zone do we think we could generate? Or would making it very large also reduce the power of it significantly?
>Right now, you feel like you could manage a fairly sizable one. Large enough to encompass a transport truck, at least. And that size shouldn't affect its effectiveness.
-
>But not large enough that Patchouli could not easily fly out of it?
>Let's give her just another moment to see if there is even a glimmer of regret for Reisen having been the one of us that took the worst of that
>But if not....
-
>But not large enough that Patchouli could not easily fly out of it?
>Let's give her just another moment to see if there is even a glimmer of regret for Reisen having been the one of us that took the worst of that
>But if not....
>Not in the position she's in right now, no. She's got hundreds of feet to fly in any direction. You can't make a field that big.
>At this distance, her face isn't completely readable. She does, however, start to descend down towards the ground. But her speed is not the frenzied charge you might have expected from the anger she displayed, and she doesn't seem to be headed towards the Knowledge manor. In fact, she seems to be headed towards Reisen.
-
>Let's move in to follow. Gently, non-threateningly. Still have to hope our friend's still in there somewhere.
-
>Let's move in to follow. Gently, non-threateningly. Still have to hope our friend's still in there somewhere.
>Trying to give Patchouli the benefit of whatever doubt is left, you begin your own descent, making sure not to get too close or go too quickly.
>Mistress? Rin's silent voice asks. Let me hop onto ta your wheel for a second, mine's about to give out on me.
-
>Of course.
>Let her on board
-
>Of course.
>Let her on board
>Dextrously, the kasha hops aboard your flying disc. Despite the fact that she doesn't weigh a lot, the motion is still enough to upset your balance a little, making you stumble just a little. Just enough that Rin has to steady you, a gesture and a sensation you find rather pleasant. As does she, by the look of the smile on her face. But then she gets back to business and asks, Uh, y'know, I know that's Patchy, but since she ain't paying attention, do ya think that Violet light of yours might work on her if ya hit her now?
-
>Do we actually think it would, if it's ever going to? Or is it likely she's currently shielded from it by her own power as the youma tended to be before being worn down?
-
>Do we actually think it would, if it's ever going to? Or is it likely she's currently shielded from it by her own power as the youma tended to be before being worn down?
>Given the unknown quanities concerning her powers and her emotional state, you're not 100% certain it would have any effect at all. But, assuming it can affect her, you'd almost certainly have to wear her down first. Despite the effort of escaping your Cyclone and that big spell of hers, she's still putting out an afully large power signature.
-
>I'm not sure it would even affect her, and even if it could, she still has far too much power gathered around herself for it to get through. If Violet Lotus is the answer to this problem, I'm afraid we'll need to hit her with a great deal more beforehand.
-
>I'm not sure it would even affect her, and even if it could, she still has far too much power gathered around herself for it to get through. If Violet Lotus is the answer to this problem, I'm afraid we'll need to hit her with a great deal more beforehand.
>Rin sighs. You think Sanae's gonna turn out like this, too?
-
>Possibly worse, I fear. Patchouli, at least, still seems to have some concern left for the people she cared about, even though I fear it's not enough. But if the damage done to Reisen by her own hands is not enough to stay them at least a little, then I don't think we can hold back any longer - Patchy or no.
-
>Possibly worse, I fear. Patchouli, at least, still seems to have some concern left for the people she cared about, even though I fear it's not enough. But if the damage done to Reisen by her own hands is not enough to stay them at least a little, then I don't think we can hold back any longer - Patchy or no.
>But Sanae didn't attack any of us, or her parents. Rin replies as she conjures a fresh flying wheel. That good feeling that Elis felt seemed real to me.
-
>I imagine it was, but you heard what she said about being indifferent to the deaths of innocent lives. Whatever the target of her own vengeance, it is something different. I might not have even guessed Patchouli's, had I not known her so well.
-
>I imagine it was, but you heard what she said about being indifferent to the deaths of innocent lives. Whatever the target of her own vengeance, it is something different. I might not have even guessed Patchouli's, had I not known her so well.
>It definitely has something to do with her parents, they made that much clear before Sanae and Elis left. Lily and me tried to get some answers out of Sanae's parents, but they didn't want to talk to anybody. They took off, too.
>Patchouli has dropped down to the ground at this point, and has completely ignored the sprawled form of Anya, leaving her back exposed to the miko. Not that Anya's in much shape to do much about it anyway. Reisen, for her part, has turned over and is currently seated on the grass. "I did warn you." Patchy says to Reisen, in a tone of voice very much like she uses in a normal conversation.
>Reisen actually manages a rueful smile for her friend as she looks up at her. "Normally your experiments don't cover as much distance when they explode."
>The Avatar of Water actually chuckles quietly. "No, I suppose they didn't."
>I'll check on Anya. Lily informs you as she drops down towards the wounded miko.
-
>Alright.
>I had questions for them myself, but we were in such a hurry that I didn't have time to address them. Do you know where they went?
>Let's give Patchouli and Reisen a moment. For a second there, that sounded almost... normal.
-
>Alright.
>I had questions for them myself, but we were in such a hurry that I didn't have time to address them. Do you know where they went?
>Let's give Patchouli and Reisen a moment. For a second there, that sounded almost... normal.
>They didn't say. But Suwako's building that new Iron Rings here in town. Bet we can find at least one of 'em there.
>"What are you doing out here, Reisen?" the Avatar asks.
>"I was worried about you, Patchouli."
>"You don't need to worry about me anymore. I'm not the sick, frail girl I was before. I finally have everything I should have had all my life, everything they tried to keep from me."
>"The Knowledge family sorcery wasn't meant for this." Reisen retorts, some strength returning to her voice. "Even I know that. You're a scholar, Patchouli, that's what you wanted to be. Not an avenger. Not a conqueror."
>"Once, I would have been content with that." the mage argues, "But no more. I know what they did to me, what they wanted from me. They're the ones that turned their back on the Knowledge way, not me. They took the shortcut that created me, and now I have the power to make them sorry for it. And not just them." she adds, half-turning from Reisen and taking a few steps away from the walk. "There are many more like them out there, I know. All the years the sapient species have lived on this planet, and they still lend themselves to society that coddle the ones that take shortcuts, who step on other people's lives just to make their own a little bit better. Once, I would have been one of their victims, but no more! We Six will find them all, in every little hole they hide in, every fortress they think is safe. We are justice, we are vengeance, we are the hatred of everyone they've used, betrayed and sacrificed in the name of themselves."
>The rabbit by this time has pulled herself to her feet, and is staring at her friend with a mix of sorrow and horror. "I don't believe what I'm hearing. Do you hear yourself, Patchouli? How you've changed?"
>"I told you." the mage growls, turning back to her. "I am the Avatar of Water."
>"The Avatar of water isn't the woman I called friend." Reisen cries. "You've gone to some dark place I can't follow."
>"Oh yes you can." Patchouli replies eagerly, taking a step closer to Reisen. Who, you note, reflexively steps back from her. "Don't you see, you can help me, I, I can help you. You're as much a victim as I was, Reisen. You could join me." she says eagerly, maybe even more eagerly than you've heard her talk about her magic. "The Six of us will be stronger than the Champions. We can overthrow them. And we, you and me, the people who'd follow me, we can make the world the way WE want it to be."
>Reisen takes another half-step back from the Avatar, then stops, closing her eyes. Something passes over her face, and when she opens her red eyes again, you are surprised at the steel you see there. "You don't know everything about me, Avatar. You know about my slavery, but not the reason why I became a slave. You don't know what happened to me on the moon. What you just said? I once heard talk like that from a man on the moon, and that man committed a genocide, speaking the same thing. I couldn't stop him or the people that followed him because I didn't have any power. But I have power now, the power that Magical Lotus has given me. Now I can stop people like that. Patchouli, you were the first person I served that really cared about me, and I would have welcomed becoming your slave. But I won't let you become the kind of person that made me flee the moon. It's not too late." Reisen extends her hand to the visibly stricken Patchouli. "You're the last person in the world I ever wanted to fight, Patchouli. Please, don't force me to make you the first."
>The Avatar of Water stares at that hand for a long moment, then her lips quiver and twist into a snarl. "Magical Lotus... You, you came here with her?"
>"I did." Reisen answers but Patchy is already twisting her head around, scanning the area for you. "Patchouli, please-"
>"YOU!" The Avatar roars as she finally spies you, jabbing an accusing finger at you. "You turned her against me!"
-
>"The very first words out of her mouth when I told her where you were going were to beg us to stop you. She asked to come with us. Freely. For your sake!"
-
>"The very first words out of her mouth when I told her where you were going were to beg us to stop you. She asked to come with us. Freely. For your sake!"
>"Lies!" An ugly blue glow surrounds her outstretched hand. "She would never betray me! You did this!" And the Avatar puncuates her paranoid accusation with a large beam of water energy.
-
>Quickly bank to the side to avoid it, though throw up a shield if we have to
>"She didn't betray you! Her loyalty is to the woman you were, and what she would have wanted - which is not this! Surely you can see that!"
-
>Quickly bank to the side to avoid it, though throw up a shield if we have to
>"She didn't betray you! Her loyalty is to the woman you were, and what she would have wanted - which is not this! Surely you can see that!"
>Patchouli's attack, though respectively sized, is not as fast as some others you've had to dodge, so you sideslip down and to the right away from the beam, while Rin spins out to the left to get away from it.
>"I see. I see that you gave her that power to steal her from me." The blue glow around her hand turns a jet black. "But you will not take her from me!" From the blackness there grows a long double-bladed sword, the blade of which resembles solidified oily water. It is a vile looking thing, and you wouldn't be surprised if even touching the thing would be bad for you. Her face contorted with rage, Patchouli points her oily blade at you. "I don't care what explanations you have, I'll see you dead before you take her from me!"
-
>"Do you think killing people will do anything but drive her further away? Did you not hear the words she just spoke?"
-
>"Do you think killing people will do anything but drive her further away? Did you not hear the words she just spoke?"
>The Avatar's only reply is a furious roar as she swings her sword down, sending a crescent-shaped burst of vile-looking power your way.
-
>Let's get the heck out of the way of that one. Can't let it scrape us.
>I'm sorry Reisen, but I don't think we can hold our fire any longer or she will end up killing someone.
-
>Let's get the heck out of the way of that one. Can't let it scrape us.
>I'm sorry Reisen, but I don't think we can hold our fire any longer or she will end up killing someone.
>Just give me a minute. Reisen says grimly as you turn your attention to that incoming blade, which is a faster projectile than her energy beam. You kick your disc into action again, heading up and to the right, but even your hurried evasive maneuver results in a very near miss as that evil-smelling blade passes beneath you. The projectiles from that sword seem to carry Patchouli's anger within them, an expression of the black rage that has seized her heart and soul made manifest by that vile sword.
>Not to be denied, Patchouli swings her sword again and again and again, sending three more of those evil blade-shots flying at you through the air. Straightaway, you hope that Rin has your back, because you can't see how you can dodge the three of them, and you're not in a hurry to see what they'll do your Sapphire Lotus. But aid does not come from Rin but from Reisen, who you hear intone, "Glider: East Wind." A frigid, damp wind blows across the manor yard, forcing the oily cutters to your right, leaving you an opening to your left, which you take advantage of, evading and rising above the three evil attacks.
>Patchouli rounds on the rabbit, who stands unfazed in the face of her friends anger. "I told you. I won't let you do this, Patchouli."
>"You won't stop me!"
>"Yes I will. Lunar Spectrum Shift: Saber." Magical Poppy changes her form again, this time revealing a form that, while still flattering on her, is much more hardcore than the last two. Her light purple skirt has armor plates over her hips, and her lower legs are protected by silvery steel greaves. Her chest, arms and shoulders are protected by gleaming white plate mail, a silvery full moon emblazoned over the breast piece, waxing and waning quarter moons on the back of her hands. Her collar now sports a dark blue stone, and a circlet of silver and gold encircles her head. Two small violet colored wings extend from the buttons on her ears. She looks like a proper knight. And the grim look on her face completes the image.
>If she gets the best of me, then take steps. The armor clad rabbit says into your mind. But if I can, I will stop her.
-
>We're a team, Reisen. We stand together. And I couldn't conscience letting a friend face danger without facing it with her.
-
>We're a team, Reisen. We stand together. And I couldn't conscience letting a friend face danger without facing it with her.
>Byakuren. I have to do this. Get the shrine maiden inside, keep the Knowledges safe. But I have to do this.
-
>Lead and I will follow, but I won't let you stand alone. Each of us is stronger together than any of us are apart.
-
>Lead and I will follow, but I won't let you stand alone. Each of us is stronger together than any of us are apart.
>But- Rin, will you explain this to her? Reisen says, extending her voice to include the kasha.
>Who replies to her with a shake of the head. Forget it, Reisen. I don't think she'd leave you to fight her any sooner'd she leave me.
-
>I respect your reasons, Reisen, and I have faith in you, but our fellowship is the very reason we can prevail. The power Patchouli possesses now is greater than any of us, but not greater than all of us - and so long as we draw breath, she will never face us alone.
-
>I respect your reasons, Reisen, and I have faith in you, but our fellowship is the very reason we can prevail. The power Patchouli possesses now is greater than any of us, but not greater than all of us - and so long as we draw breath, she will never face us alone.
>The armored rabbit sighs shortly into your mind, but she doesn't put up any further arguement.
>"You're not stronger than me, Reisen." Patchoul says with a wave of her sword. "I don't know what they did to turn you against me, but you can't stop me. None of you can."
>With unblinking determination, Reisen raises her right hand over her head. "Saber Blade!" A shaft of rainbow-colored light emerges from her outstretched hand, and solidifes into a long metal sword, thinner than Patchouli's blade and nearly equal in length. When the sword fully coalesces, Reisen points the tip at her friend. "I WILL try."
>With a defiant yell, Reisen leaps forward, her height and speed belying the plate mail that covers her body. It is not with much time to spare that Avatar of Water raises her own sword in response, using a two-handed grip to block Poppy's overhead swing. The two magical blades give off sparks of power when they meet, and the sound is not just that of metal on metal, put of power on power. The die is cast now. That it should come to this...
>Anya's hurt. Lily reports. She'll be okay, but I need to get her inside, where it's safe.
-
>Then do so, but hurry.
>Swing around behind Patchouli's field of vision and fire an Orange Lotus at her
-
>Then do so, but hurry.
>Swing around behind Patchouli's field of vision and fire an Orange Lotus at her
>On it!
>With a roar of her own, Patchouli pushes Reisen's sword back, but only marginally. Despite her superior power, the Water Avatar appears to yield some physical strength to Magical Poppy's Saber form. The result of this is Reisen pushing the Avatar back and forcing her sword down. Patchy has to leap back away from Reisen, but the rabbit does not relent, charging forward again, this time leading with an upward diagonal slash, which Patchouli parries with more ease this time. Another pair of strikes from the rabbit are also blocked, and you see clearly that while Poppy's Saber form is stronger than the Avatar, it is not automatically more skilled than her opponent.
>But she is plenty skilled enough to keep Patchouli's attention occupied, certainly long enough for you to place yourself behind her peripheral vision, and invoke your Orange Light. A single sphere of orange light bursts from the tip of your scepter, and strikes Patchouli just above her right thigh.
>Unlike the centaur youma you struck with Orange light before, Patchouli visibly reacts to the impact of your spell. She launches a vicious thrust forward at Reisen, forcing the rabbit to back away from her, then uses the momentum to spin towards you, calling out "Dark Water Blades!" as she does so. One after another, she conjures up four oily sawblades and sends them streaking through the air at you and Rin.
-
>The previous projectiles did not track us, right? They were simply fast?
>Can we see any openings between these that look easier to duck through than others?
>Do we think our Violet Lotus might be able to purify whatever unpleasantness is in the attacks themselves, leaving them safer to block (or even mostly harmless?)
-
>The previous projectiles did not track us, right? They were simply fast?
>Can we see any openings between these that look easier to duck through than others?
>Do we think our Violet Lotus might be able to purify whatever unpleasantness is in the attacks themselves, leaving them safer to block (or even mostly harmless?)
>Correct. But these these projectiles are more solid than the last, more like actual sawblades covered in oil rather than energy projections.
>The gaps between the sawblades are not large. You might be able to weave your way between them, but there wouldn't be much margin for error. The four of them are coming in at around chest height, however. If their flight path remains consistant, you should be able to duck under them if you hit the deck.
>The oil on these blades is more like real oil, the kind that comes in barrels, rather than the inky vileness that her blade is made up of. It wouldn't do you any favors if you touched it or let it cut you, but it doesn't give you the same impression of danger that the blasts from her sword did. By the same token, it should be less metaphysically harmful to block them with your Sapphire Lotus, or shoot them down with either your Scarlet or Violet Lotus.
-
>Dive downward, and fire a Scarlet Lotus upward at the blades, to try and knock them off-course, if we anticipate that our margin for avoidance will be close
>Shield ourselves if all that fails, of course
-
>Dive downward, and fire a Scarlet Lotus upward at the blades, to try and knock them off-course, if we anticipate that our margin for avoidance will be close
>Shield ourselves if all that fails, of course
>Rather than test the limits of your agility, you take the expedient path of hitting the deck, and while you are ready to employ your Scarlet light to defend yourself if need be, this proves to be unnecessary, as the saw blades will miss you provided you stay down here.
>But as the saws pass over your prone body, Patchy sneers and turns her outstretched palm upwards sharply, her hand surrounded by a blue glow. With a sinking feeling, you try to roll away, but it is too late. A geyser of ice-cold water erupts from the ground beneath you, hurtling you into the sky and buffeting you not just the force of the impact, but with numbing cold as well.
>"White Retainer's Fire!" you hear Rin yell from beneath you as she sends a torrent flame at Patchouli. The Avatar though merely lowers her hand and unleashes a stream of water that meets Rin's attack in the air, resulting in a cloud of hot steam but no damage to either person. The damage comes a moment later. Distracted by White Rose's attack, the Avatar fails to notice Poppy point her sword at her, and unleash a beam of prismatic light. The beam strikes Patchy square in her back and plays out over her upper torso like rainbow-colored electricity, staggering her and ending her geyser spell, leaving you not only damaged, but falling back to the earth.
-
>Quickly catch ourselves from falling, then try to turn and fire a Vermillion Lotus at Patchouli while she's likewise distracted
>And heck, maybe that can even warm us up, too
-
>Quickly catch ourselves from falling, then try to turn and fire a Vermillion Lotus at Patchouli while she's likewise distracted
>And heck, maybe that can even warm us up, too
>Pulling yourself back together after taking the impact of several dozen gallons of water to the gut, you cast another blue colored flying disc beneath you to land on. As you do this, Patchouli spins and slashes her sword, cutting through Reisen's beam and ending her attack. Hoping to take advantage of her divided attention, you raise your scepter again and unleash your Vermillion Light upon the Avatar, while Rin, nearly at the same time, fires another blast of white flame at the enemy. Sparing a quick glance at you over her shoulder, the Water Avatar clenches her fist, and an opaque glove of water appears to encircle her. Patches of the water boil where yours and Rin's attack strike it, but the dome holds.
>And yes, it actually does help to take some of the chill out of you. Compared to Ice's cold, it wasn't nearly as bad.
-
>Let's aim for the same spot.
>Fire another Vermillion Lotus at the dome, and try to keep it steady. Maybe we can boil right through it, if we focus the beam narrowly enough.
-
>Let's aim for the same spot.
>Fire another Vermillion Lotus at the dome, and try to keep it steady. Maybe we can boil right through it, if we focus the beam narrowly enough.
>Understood.
>Aiming for the point of the dome halfway between you and Rin, the two of you unleash your fire spells upon Patchouli's defenses once more. From within the dome, you sense Patchouli pouring her own power into the shield to keep your tandem attack out, and while this may keep her safe, it has to be more draining for her than it is for you two. At least you hope so.
>And then you hear Lily winging her way up behind you and to your right. "Those jerks wouldn't let us in!" she declares as she approaches.
-
>"Where's Anya?"
>Can we tell if the power reinforcement is applied just to this specific spot we're aiming at, or the shield in general?
-
>"Where's Anya?"
>Can we tell if the power reinforcement is applied just to this specific spot we're aiming at, or the shield in general?
>"I had to leave her by the door." Lily informs you as she pulls up next you, for once looking properly upset. "Hoping those meanines might loosen up."
>"They're probably scared." Rin calls over the sound of her flames. "Can ya blame 'em?"
>The specific spot. Since no one else is shooting at the shield, Patchouli can concentrate her efforts on the one spot.
-
>Reisen, hit her shield from the other side. She's reinforcing where we're striking.
-
>Reisen, hit her shield from the other side. She's reinforcing where we're striking.
>Yeah, okay... Reisen replies, sounding oddly pained. A glance in her direction shows that she holding her head with her free hand, as though she had a splitting headache. After a moment, though, she raises her sword once more and discharges a green and white beam of energy, striking the dome.
>Meanwhile, Lily, whom you notice has a couple of pieces of fabric torn off her dress that she didn't before, brings up another Leaf Shield. "Hit me, Lotus!"
-
>Give her shield a nice toasty Vermillion Lotus!
>And then turn our fire back to the shield again
-
>Give her shield a nice toasty Vermillion Lotus!
>And then turn our fire back to the shield again
>Pausing your attack briefly, you turn your scepter towards Lily. Even with her sheild up and for the purpose of aiding her offense, the idea of firing on the energetic little blonde is not a welcome one. But you shake it off and give her shield a dose of Vermillion light, turning her leaves a bright cherry red with the fire elemental energy.
>And then promptly turn your attention, and your fire, back to the dome of water, syncing your target with Rin's yet again. Lily takes to wing and side-flutters to your right, taking up position about halfway between you and Reisen, when you hear Patchouli yell, "You didn't expect them to care, did you? They're not afraid. They just don't care about your lives, or anyone elses'."
-
>"Even if you're right, that isn't cause to murder them! If every wrong is redressed with another wrong, soon enough the whole world will be wounded. Hate breeds only hate!"
-
>"Even if you're right, that isn't cause to murder them! If every wrong is redressed with another wrong, soon enough the whole world will be wounded. Hate breeds only hate!"
>"Oh, I don't know." the Avatar replies dangerously. "I sort of hate you right now, but I'm willing to put that aside if you want my help convincing them to open their door. I know just how to do it, too."
>"No, thanks." Lily answers boldly, and hurls her shield at Patchouli's dome. The glowing red leaves pass right through the turbulent water's surface, and you hear the distinct thud sound that Lily's shiled makes when it hits something, accompanied by a very uncomfortable noise from the magus within. Who doesn't stay within for long. The force of the impact knocks her clear out of her dome, hitting the ground on her back a couple of feet beyond its edge. Weirdly, unlike her geyser, the dome does not disappear when the Avatar loses concentration, it stays firmly intact.
>You take a moment to cease fire and recuperate. It's as well you didn't have to sustain fire against that thing for too much longer.
-
>So, do we think we'll need a few moments before being able to fire again, now that she's presenting a more open target for the moment?
-
>So, do we think we'll need a few moments before being able to fire again, now that she's presenting a more open target for the moment?
>No, you're good now. You're just pleased she landed on her back, rather than forming another kind of attack after Lily struck her.
-
>Then let's not waste any possible opening here, and fire a Scarlet Lotus down at her
-
>Then let's not waste any possible opening here, and fire a Scarlet Lotus down at her
>As the Avatar of Water starts to sit up, you unload your primary offensive spell upon her. Bracing herself with her sword to get back to her feet, Patchouli is too busy scowling in the direction of Lily to notice your Scarlet Lotus before it strikes her. And she doesn't like it one bit, judging from her pained yell and jerking reaction. After a moment's pummeling, she manages to wave her hand, and a thick tendril of water extends itself from the water globe, intercepting your Scarlet light before it does anymore damage to her.
>"So you want fire?" the Avatar growls. "I'll give you fire."[/b] Patchouli fires a reddish burst of power into her dome of water, which, with a roar, catches fire. Paradoxically, the water itself appears to burn, a sea-green and blue inferno that gives off a terrible sulfurous reek. That in and of itself might have been bad enough, but the burning dome then expands outward like a balloon being filled by an industrial fan, and while it seems to pass over Patchouli herself harmlessly, you're quite certain it won't be nearly as benign if it hits you.
-
>We could outrun its expansion by flying up again, yes?
>Are any of us in a position where it looks like we'd be in danger of not being able to do that? Reisen maybe?
-
>We could outrun its expansion by flying up again, yes?
>Are any of us in a position where it looks like we'd be in danger of not being able to do that? Reisen maybe?
>You actually don't think so. Its rate of growth and expansion is considerable, and your flight speed is not extreme. You're not confidant you can outrun it entirely.
>Reisen is on the ground, and Lily is not far above it. Neither of them have a chance of outrunning the burning water. Lily's Leaf Shield has proved to be a sturdy defense, and you think she has time to activate it, so she should be okay. Reisen, though, is an unknown. You don't know what powers this Saber form of hers has. Presumably, she'd have to have at least some kind of defensive ability, but you don't know what it is, or how effective it might be.
-
>Retreat from the wave to buy ourselves a small amount of time to react
>While doing so, fire an Amber Lotus in hopes of disrupting a large enough patch of the fiery dome in front of us for us to avoid damage from it
>If this also is ineffective, bunker down with Sapphire Lotus as best we can
-
>Retreat from the wave to buy ourselves a small amount of time to react
>While doing so, fire an Amber Lotus in hopes of disrupting a large enough patch of the fiery dome in front of us for us to avoid damage from it
>If this also is ineffective, bunker down with Sapphire Lotus as best we can
>Backpeddling a little bit to give you some to prepare your counterattack, you level your scepter at the growing wall of burning water and unleash your Amber Light upon it. The golden glow of your light spreads through about a quarter of the done. The fire dims and the water thins, but neither vanish completely. As you noted with Elis' thundercloud, your Amber Light is able to blunt the enemy weapons' power, but not defeat it completely.
>But that does mean your Sapphire Lotus will have a much easier time coping with the firewater, and you deploy it with confidence. And with little enough time to spare as well, as the burning water strikes your shield but a moment later. Even the diffused force makes you grunt with the impact, and the simultaneous sensation of hot and cold translated by the firewater through your Lotus is a bizarre one, and not one you'd care to experience altogether often. But the combination of your Amber and Sapphire light results in the flaming water passing by either side of you relatively harmlessly.
-
>Does this mean that we're now on the inside of the dome, and have an open shot at Patchouli again?
>Can we see how any of our other comrades fared?
-
>Does this mean that we're now on the inside of the dome, and have an open shot at Patchouli again?
>Can we see how any of our other comrades fared?
>You have a clear sight of her yes. Since she's back on her feet and her sword is raised, 'open shot' may be a bit optimistic. But at least she doesn't appear to be looking at you.
>You can see both Lily and Poppy. Lily is on one knee, the small burns on patches of her skin dripping water, and a pained expression on her face. Obviously her shield wasn't quite enough to absorb the impact of the firewater. Reisen, on the other hand, seems unharmed, or at least there are no visible burns on her. She is presently sprinting towards the wounded Lily.
>Of White Rose, there is no sign.
-
>To Rin: Are you alright?
-
>To Rin: Are you alright?
>Fast fire. I'm okay, but I think I gotta try to stop it from growing, or it might hit the house. You okay?
-
>I'm fine. Reisen also. Lily's a bit injured, but I think she'll be okay.
>Maybe if we hit Patchouli herself with an Amber Lotus, it could disrupt the flame dome's growth. Try it!
-
>I'm fine. Reisen also. Lily's a bit injured, but I think she'll be okay.
>Maybe if we hit Patchouli herself with an Amber Lotus, it could disrupt the flame dome's growth. Try it!
>Understood.
>Hitting upon an idea, you raise your scepter again, but just before you can bring the thing in line with Patchouli, the Avatar of Water discharges a beam of black from her sword at Lily, and even though you know Lily can get off the ground in flight in a hurry, you don't think she can do it before the Avatar's beam strikes home.
>But then Reisen is there, shouting her defiance at Patchouli, and catches the oily black beam on her upraises sword. The blast splashes against Poppy's shiny sword like a water balloon full of oil and tar, and the force of the impact takes Reisen clean off her feet as the rabbit screams, catching Lily in the legs as the blonde tries to fly away from the shot. This collision knocks Lily off balance and spins her in midair, and both women end up hitting the ground, but worse is the black energy that plays out over Reisen's body.
>Eager not to let Patchouli fire another shot, you quickly launch your own attack at her, and with her attention on your groundbound comrades, she is unable to block your attack, and your Amber light surrounds her. It is now her time to yell, not as pained as Reisen's, but she's plainly uncomfortable. The expanding wall of burning water flickers and slows as you'd hoped, but what you don't expect is a similar flicker from the Avatar's oily sword. From behind you, closer to the Knowledge manor, you hear a new sound of flame and the sound of a crashing wave, as Rin's white fire penetrates the dome. With its structure now weakened and compromised, and Patchouli herself under siege from you, the dome disintegrates, leaving behind a field of scorched grass, seared tiles and pavement, and one slightly burned Lily White.
-
>Is that black energy still present on Reisen?
-
>Is that black energy still present on Reisen?
>Affirmative, though it does seem to be fading.
-
>Let's see if a Violet Lotus can cleanse that unsettling energy away from Reisen
-
>Let's see if a Violet Lotus can cleanse that unsettling energy away from Reisen
>Despite the black power seeming to fade, Reisen's pained expression clearly shows that it's still doing harm, so you resolve to do something about it. And that something finds its form in your Violet light. The violet energy washes over the sprawled rabbit, taking the inky blackness away with it. But through your Violet Light, you sense something within the purple-haired rabbit. A sense of guilt that seems to run all the way through her, a profound sense of pain so deep-set that you almost flinch away from the sensation.
>As you take the opportunity to dispel the dark energy damaging Reisen, Patchouli takes advantage of her own opportunity, and slashes her sword down, cutting through your Amber Light and causing it to dissipate. Lily, meanwhile, is pulling herself back to her feet, and Rin, you hear, is flying back up to join the battle.
>For the moment, neither side attacks. A brief pause in the hostilities, into which Patchouli speaks. "You're all strong. But you can't win. My reclamation of my Avatar powers has given me the full sorcerous might of the Knowledge clan, in addition to the powers inherent to my now complete heart. I have given you a taste. You can still flee, before I unleash worse upon you." Despite her boasts, you can't help but notice that Patchouli's voice doesn't sound quite as strong as it did before, she doesn't appear to be standing up completely straight. The four of you may be hurt and winded, but she's tiring too.
-
>"And upon Reisen, too? Even if you still think she's being manipulated, the harm you've inflicted upon her is genuine."
>Is everyone alright?
-
>"And upon Reisen, too? Even if you still think she's being manipulated, the harm you've inflicted upon her is genuine."
>Is everyone alright?
>"The choice was made."
>White Rose replies quickly, Still good.
>Lily and Poppy, on the other hand, are not as quick to respond. Lily, wincing visibly, mutters an Okay for now.
>Poppy, on the other hand, groans and sits up, and replies with I think so.
-
>For all her words, she is wearying also - would she even have suggested we flee if she was still so confident in overpowering us?
-
>For all her words, she is wearying also - would she even have suggested we flee if she was still so confident in overpowering us?
>Or maybe she's starting to think she doesn't really want to fight us after all. Reisen offers. Look at her, she doesn't have the same kind of anger she did before.
>She could be right. White Rose adds. Maybe we're workin' the rage outta her?
-
>It would be nice if that were so, but we cannot stand down yet.
>"Choices can be unmade; none of us are bound to follow a path to its end just because of the first steps we took upon it."
-
>It would be nice if that were so, but we cannot stand down yet.
>"Choices can be unmade; none of us are bound to follow a path to its end just because of the first steps we took upon it."
>"Do you always take such a half-hearted approach to your fights?" the Avatar replies. "If you don't have the conviction to see this through, then get out of my way, and stop wasting both of our times."
-
>"I have no intention of backing down. My reasons for fighting remain, and I will stand here so long as they are true. But if any part of you regrets the injury you have done to someone you care about, to the further injury that you threaten, it is not too late to choose otherwise. For if you continue on this path, you must know that the only victory you can wrest will be over the battered body of a friend."
-
>"I have no intention of backing down. My reasons for fighting remain, and I will stand here so long as they are true. But if any part of you regrets the injury you have done to someone you care about, to the further injury that you threaten, it is not too late to choose otherwise. For if you continue on this path, you must know that the only victory you can wrest will be over the battered body of a friend."
>The Avatar of Water's face hardens. "Then so be it. Dark Water Vines."
>Clenching her fist, Patchouli conjures forth a twisted mass of thorny vines pulsing with dark, transparent veins of water flowing through them, surrounding herself in a coccoon of those vile plants.
-
>Well, perhaps not.
>Let's see if we can aim a Vermillion Lotus in through any gap in this cluster of vines. Or simply make a new hole of our own, as the case may be.
-
>Well, perhaps not.
>Let's see if we can aim a Vermillion Lotus in through any gap in this cluster of vines. Or simply make a new hole of our own, as the case may be.
>Reisen, grim faced as well and back on her feet with a little help from Lily, replies, We can still win. I don't think she's as strong as she think she is.
>Whether she's right or not, you take the initiative to battle Patchouli's latest spell. One component burns, the other one boils, fire-element spells should work against it, so you fire your Vermillion light at the Avatar's vine shield, not spotting any visible gaps in the cluster.
>But the very instant your attack lands, the vines respond in kind. Dozens of green and black throrns blast away from the vines and rocket towards you.
-
>Can we switch our Vermillion Lotus to a wide-angle attack, even if this means a power reduction? Try to burn away the thorns directly coming for us before they can reach us?
>If so, do this. Just wide enough to safely cover the incoming fire.
-
>Can we switch our Vermillion Lotus to a wide-angle attack, even if this means a power reduction? Try to burn away the thorns directly coming for us before they can reach us?
>If so, do this. Just wide enough to safely cover the incoming fire.
>You can expand your Vermillion light, yes. The risk would be in that, in expanding the area of fire, the resulting cone would not have intensity enough to burn the thorns away, as they are rather large.
-
>Expand it just enough to cover ourselves and throw some extra power into it. But if that doesn't seem to be doing the trick, dive out of the way and throw a barrier up
-
>Expand it just enough to cover ourselves and throw some extra power into it. But if that doesn't seem to be doing the trick, dive out of the way and throw a barrier up
>Drawing upon more power, you turn your beam of Vermillion light into a cone, and the thorns you catch within it ignite under your attack.
>However, your attack is still in contact with the tangle of vines, and as the area of contact grows, so too does the thorny barrage intensify. Practically a hundred of those thorns must be coming at your in a collapsing cone of fire.
>And then Rin's disc is there in front of you, kicked to your defense by the kasha, blocking the thorns most directly threatening you. Rin follows this up by, well, tackling you to the ground, with signifigant force, carrying you nearly a full foot away from your previous location, barely, barely ahead of the intact thorns.
-
>Did thorns fly out only from the parts of the vine cluster that were directly hit by our attacks?
>Was the wider cone still strong enough to burn down the initial barrage? Was the issue only how many more thorns came out afterward?
-
>Did thorns fly out only from the parts of the vine cluster that were directly hit by our attacks?
>Was the wider cone still strong enough to burn down the initial barrage? Was the issue only how many more thorns came out afterward?
>From there and areas around it.
>You think it had sufficient strength to protect yourself from the first barrage, though a few embers might have hit you in the face. Power consumption would have been an issue, though, if you'd had to keep it up for any length of time.
-
>How narrow can we focus our Vermillion Lotus? Could we make the point of impact considerably smaller than default, and still cram appreciable power into it?
-
>How narrow can we focus our Vermillion Lotus? Could we make the point of impact considerably smaller than default, and still cram appreciable power into it?
>Conceivably, a thinner beam would be stronger by default, as it would be more concentrated. It's not a big beam as it is, but you think you could get it down to the size of... something close to the plastic post in a CD spindle.
-
>And can we maintain a localized Sapphire Lotus while still firing this beam?
-
>And can we maintain a localized Sapphire Lotus while still firing this beam?
>You don't think so. You do not presently have the capacity to channel two simultaneous lights.
-
>Thanks.
>Pull ourselves to our feet.
>Okay, change of plans. Lily, can you leave a small hole in your shield, say about an inch across in the middle - just enough for me to fire through?
-
>Thanks.
>Pull ourselves to our feet.
>Anytime. Rin says, though she winces in the doing. A quick glance reveals that although she knocked you clear of the thorns, she wasn't quite able to escape damage herself. There is a scratch on one of her tails, as well as on her left leg.
>In another part of the battlefield, Reisen and Lily seem to have their own problems. Poppy fires one of her sword beams at the wall of thorns, only to meet the same results you did, a returning volley of thorns. Lily reacts a bit more promptly than Rin did with you, and spins in place, grabbing Reisen and taking her down to the ground out of the line of fire, a pair of thorns missing her wings by only millimeters.
>Okay, change of plans. Lily, can you leave a small hole in your shield, say about an inch across in the middle - just enough for me to fire through?
>My Leaf Shield? Uh, you mean you want to shoot around me, through my shield?
-
>If that vine barrier reacts to where it is struck, it might be best to concentrate the greatest force in the smallest area. If I fire a very narrow Vermillion Lotus, the counterattack might be modest enough for another's shield to catch without breaking my own attack. I think I can incinerate any thorns directly in the beam, but might need cover for those fired from nearby the point of impact.
-
>If that vine barrier reacts to where it is struck, it might be best to concentrate the greatest force in the smallest area. If I fire a very narrow Vermillion Lotus, the counterattack might be modest enough for another's shield to catch without breaking my own attack. I think I can incinerate any thorns directly in the beam, but might need cover for those fired from nearby the point of impact.
>Good thinking!
>Yeah. But I think I can do that, too. White Rose informs you. I can make a wheel with a hole in the middle.
>Poppy adds, If you can, then Lily and I can attack from this side. A two-front attack might have a better chance of breaching the vines.
-
>Let's do that then. Set our shields up, and time our fire together.
>Execute the plan!
-
>Let's do that then. Set our shields up, and time our fire together.
>Execute the plan!
>Although Rin replies quickly in the affirmative, she is not so quick to rise, groaning as she does so. You note, as she starts to invoke her spell, her left leg seems just a hair unsteady.
>You furthur note that Patchouli's been busy as well, as eight flower buds have extruded themselves from the vines in places, a sickly yellow and thin blue in color. The thorns were bad enough, but you dread to think what those might indicate.
>"Lunar Spectrum Shift: Caster!" Reisen calls out as she changes form yet again, back to the outfit she wore when first she transformed as Lily takes up position in front of her.
>Virtually simultaneously, Lily and Rin call out "Spring Lily Leaf Shield!"/"White Rose Guarding Ring." Before your eyes, Rin spins a white energy disc into being, a technique she's used only once before, against the lycanthopic form of Keine, and unlike then she doesn't send it flying this time, rather sets it spinning in front of you, leaving a hole in the center large enough for... probably no more than the top of a soda bottle. Is that big enough, mistress?
-
>Is it? Do we think we can narrow our Vermillion Lotus enough and aim accurately enough to pass the beam through that hole?
-
>Is it? Do we think we can narrow our Vermillion Lotus enough and aim accurately enough to pass the beam through that hole?
>It's actually more room than you thought you'd have to work with. It should work nicely.
-
>That should be good.
>Are you ready, Reisen?
-
>That should be good.
>Are you ready, Reisen?
>The rabbit nods grimly. Ready.
-
>Then let's do this.
>Do this!
-
>Then let's do this.
>Do this!
>"Vermillion Lotus!"/"Caster: Lightning Beam!" Come the tandem calls from Magical Lotus and Poppy, and a thin beam of red light, mirrored by a laser-like burst of electricity fly forth from the two magical warriors, striking the twisted vines of the Avatar of Water. As before, Patchouli's defenses return fire with an automatic, and constant, stream of those ugly green and black thorns flying back at the both of you from areas around the beams impacts. This time, though, your own defenses are ready, and both Rin's spinning wheel and Lily's spinning leaves deflect the needle barrage, at least for the moment, leaving you and Reisen to continue your assault.
>It soon becomes apparant that, while your and Reisen's attacks are being effective, the elements of Patchouli's defenses are neatly balanced to handle them. The fire-attribute of your attack is highly effective against the vines themselves, but the massive amounts of water running through them is enough to keep the vines from igniting completely. Reisen's lightning, meanwhile, appears to be conducted very easily by the water within the vines, but the vines themselves seem to be insulated against the electricic attack, preventing it from penetrating the tangle.
>This is not to say that your two-pronged offensive is ineffective, by any stretch. Those ugly yellow buds on the tangle have stopped growing, and you can sense Patchouli pouring more magic into the spell defending her. You would guess that she's had to abandon her attempts at bolstering her offense to maintain her defense. The question seems to be, whether or not you and Reisen will tire before she will. And, for that matter, if Rin and Lily's defenses will hold until the Water Avatar gives out.
>Reisen, it seems, is not optimistic, as she broadcasts, This isn't working. We're not getting through, and we can't keep this up forever.
-
>Perhaps it would be better to abandon the two-pronged approach and combine our attacks more directly. My Vermillion Lotus is effective on the vines themselves, while your lighting works better on the water within them. If both were to strike the same place at once...
-
>Perhaps it would be better to abandon the two-pronged approach and combine our attacks more directly. My Vermillion Lotus is effective on the vines themselves, while your lighting works better on the water within them. If both were to strike the same place at once...
>Then maybe we could cut through the vines. Reisen says, finishing your thought. But we'll need to be closer together. If we shot at the same location from where we are now, we might penetrate the vines, but we'd miss Patchouli.
>Isn't cutting the vines enough? Lily asks, sounding more than a little strained.
>I doubt it. If we did that, she could probably just regrow them, and we'd be no better off.
-
>Then let's move. Meet me halfway.
>Cut our fire and dash for Reisen's location
-
>Then let's move. Meet me halfway.
>Cut our fire and dash for Reisen's location
>Right.
>Letting out a breath you hadn't realized you'd been holding, you disengage your Vermillion light, and have to take a moment to reclaim it. This fight is definately starting to wear on you. And on Rin as well, as she follows after you more slowly than normal, favoring her scratched leg more than a scratch like she's got should do. And neither Lily or Reisen are close to fresh either, by the looks of the as your party gathers.
>At least Patchy doesn't seem to be operating at full capacity either, as her yellow blossoms remain inert in the time it takes your comrades to group up. Her power is spent repairing the damage you and Reisen did.
>"You okay, Rose?" Lily asks the kasha, noting her leg.
>"Don't worry about, I'm still good."
-
>Okay, same plan as before, but both of us at once.
>Get in position beside Reisen
-
>Get in position beside Reisen
> :winky:
-
>Okay, same plan as before, but both of us at once.
>Get in position beside Reisen
>I'm ready. the rabbit replies as the four of you take up posistions, you and Poppy side by side, White Rose and Lily a couple of feet in front you, bringing their defenses online.
>Despite her words, though, Reisen utters a short groan as she raises her arm, her free hand pressing against her head once again.
> :winky:
>Don't get ahead of yourself.
-
>Concerned frown
>Are you alright?
-
>Concerned frown
>Are you alright?
>I can be alright when this is over.
-
>Very well. Let's go!
>Fire!
-
>Very well. Let's go!
>Fire!
>"Vermillion Lotus!"/"Caster: Lightning Beam!" Once again, the dual cries ring out across the blasted wreck of the Knowledge's front lawn, but this time, the two spells merge as they emerge from their casters, creating a lance of brilliant red light surrounded by glowing white lightning that passes between the glowing white ring and spinning leaves of White Rose and Lily. The dualtech attack proves even more effective than you'd hoped, as the beam cuts straight through the tangle of thorny vines. From within, you hear the Avatar of Water emit a yell of pain and surprise, and then a sizable tearing sound, which can only be the sound of a body being ejected through the back of the vine coccoon. Moments later, the vines rapidly shrivel and droop like the dead plants they are now, wilting away as Patchouli's magic no longer infuses them. The Avatar herself seems to have been carried quite a ways by yours and Poppy's beam, coming to rest on her hands and knees several dozen feet away, just in front of a still-intact portion of the iron fence surrounding the manor.
>As your attack concludes, you nearly double over from a surge of enhaustion that hits you. You're not sure how much longer you can keep up this rapid fire battle, and by the looks of your companions, you're not alone in that either.
-
>Hopefully Patchouli is looking worse-off than we are?
>Do we have any sense of how much charge our Orange Lotus has gathered?
>And would drawing upon that essentially be non-exhausting, as the energy isn't coming from us at this point?
-
>Hopefully Patchouli is looking worse-off than we are?
>Do we have any sense of how much charge our Orange Lotus has gathered?
>And would drawing upon that essentially be non-exhausting, as the energy isn't coming from us at this point?
>Well, the four of you are still on your feet, and she is not, although Rin's leg is looking very shaky. More, there is smoke coming from Patchouli's chest where your beam struck her. Given how many times you've struck her, and how much energy you've seen her expel, she has to be worse off than you four. At least, that's what you tell yourself.
>A pretty decent amount of energy, though perhaps not quite as much as you might have hoped. Patchouli may be more resistant to the effect of your Orange light than the centaur youma was.
>You would need to use a little energy to activate the Orange charge you've acquired, but using the Orange energy wouldn't be tiring at all. The effect would be similar to opening a bottle and turning it upside down. Once you take the top off, the power flows freely.
-
>Do we think she's weakened enough for our Violet Lotus to have an effect on her, if it's ever going to?
-
>Do we think she's weakened enough for our Violet Lotus to have an effect on her, if it's ever going to?
>Honestly, you're not sure. Although she certainly looks vulnerable, she also appears stable, and while you can't see her whole face, the part that you can see seems to show an expression of rage rather than pain.
-
>We can afford to rest later. For now, we have to press on.
>Quickly! Before she can rally her defenses again, let's hit with all of our powers together as one. Whatever you can still muster.
>Ready and fire another combination attack, as we did against Elis, leading off with Scarlet Lotus instead of Vermillion this time. Let's make this count.
-
>We can afford to rest later. For now, we have to press on.
>Quickly! Before she can rally her defenses again, let's hit with all of our powers together as one. Whatever you can still muster.
>Ready and fire another combination attack, as we did against Elis, leading off with Scarlet Lotus instead of Vermillion this time. Let's make this count.
>Fight's not over yet.
>All four of us? Lily asks.
>No choice. White Rose replies. Have to hit her while we can.
>And so, as one, the four of you raise your hands and weapons for one more strike. "Vermillion Lotus!"/"Spring Lily Petal Cyclone."/"White Retainer's Fire!"/"Caster: Lightning Orb."
>The resulting attack is as bright as it is devastating in its power, an irresistable force of red and white power aimed at the Avatar of Water. Patchy's head snaps up, and she has time enough to yell "No!" and hastily erect a barrier of aquatic energy. Which does hold, but only for a moment. No quick spell of defense would be enough to hold off that kind of attack. Screaming her outrage, Patchouli can only watch as her shield cracks, then fails, and your massive attack strikes home, the explosion of energy kicking up a sizeable cloud of dust and dirt, the blast wave blowing past the four of you.
-
>Let's hope that did it
>Take a moment to catch our breath and let the dust settle
-
>Let's hope that did it
>Take a moment to catch our breath and let the dust settle
>That HAD to have done it. Even the Champions weren't immune to that kind of firepower, and Patchy was a lot beaten to bushed than Elis was when you blasted her. That had to have done it.
>But whether it did or not, you've certainly got a moment to recover at least a little. And boy, do you need it. As do your companions, and none of them even try to hide it.
>And then Rin's leg gives out on her, and the kasha collapses.
>Lily shouts, "Rose!"
>"My leg's numb. So's me tail." Rin pulls her leg forward and sniffs the area near the wound. "Those thorns were poison."
-
>Can we get a sense of the strength of Patchouli's presence, even without being able to see her at the moment?
>Do we think we could apply our magic to neutralize poison?
-
>Can we get a sense of the strength of Patchouli's presence, even without being able to see her at the moment?
>Do we think we could apply our magic to neutralize poison?
>The sense of Patchouli's power cannot be sensed. However, you do detect an aura of pure rage coming from the direction you blasted Patchy.
>The poison was a product of Patchouli's dark power, so it has to be at least partly supernatural in nature. A dose of Violet light might do it.
-
>Is that that we used to be able to sense Patchouli's magical aura, but no longer can? Or could we never do so all that well in the first place?
>Is this 'aura of rage' new, also? Like, obviously she was angry before, but does this feel different than that in some fundamental way?
-
>Is that that we used to be able to sense Patchouli's magical aura, but no longer can? Or could we never do so all that well in the first place?
>Is this 'aura of rage' new, also? Like, obviously she was angry before, but does this feel different than that in some fundamental way?
>Patchy always had an aura of power about her, but now it appears to be gone, replaced by that sense of evil rage.
>Angry though she was, the sense of her power was somewhat close to that of Louise's. This is different, this feels... Actually, it feels like the sensation you got from that oily sword Patchy's been wielding. Only far stronger.
-
>Stronger? The last thing we need right now is 'stronger'
>Patchouli's aura has changed. I no longer detect the same sense of her magic, but instead something far darker, angrier... like the energy of the sword she was wielding.
>Quickly dose Rose's injured areas with a Violet Lotus. Hopefully we don't need to pour too much power into this one for it to be effective; we have to be running pretty low by now.
-
>Stronger? The last thing we need right now is 'stronger'
>No kidding. But it's not that this aura is stronger than Patchy's was, it's that it is stronger than the sensation you got from the sword. So that's something.
>Patchouli's aura has changed. I no longer detect the same sense of her magic, but instead something far darker, angrier... like the energy of the sword she was wielding.
>Quickly dose Rose's injured areas with a Violet Lotus. Hopefully we don't need to pour too much power into this one for it to be effective; we have to be running pretty low by now.
>You mean, like, the sword's taken over? Lily asks.
>How can that be, it's just a sword. It's no different than my Saber Blade.
>"I think you're wrong about that, Poppy." Rin says aloud as you give her lower body a very quick shot of your violet light. "I think- Ohhh, that feels funny."
-
>"Does that help a little, anyway?"
-
>"Does that help a little, anyway?"
>"Yeah, it did." your Rin replies, stretching out her leg experimentally. "That was smart of ya."
-
>Anyway, you were saying?
-
>Anyway, you were saying?
>"Right, sorry. The power's different. I think the sword's more like our power. Came from the heart. The element stuff was more like magic. I think."
-
>Does that feel consistent with what we've sensed ourselves?
-
>Does that feel consistent with what we've sensed ourselves?
>Quite consistant. You probably would have described it in more detail, but Rin's right.
-
>"I think you're right."
>But for her aura to have changed so much, so quickly... I wonder what it means,
>Can we actually see anything yet? Or get a magical sense of whether she's doing anything?
-
>But for her aura to have changed so much, so quickly... I wonder what it means,
>Can we actually see anything yet? Or get a magical sense of whether she's doing anything?
>She doesn't seem to be doing anything, not even moving. And the dust cloud is still pretty thick, but you can start to make out a black and purple aura coming from somewhere on the other side of it.
>"I think you're right."
>"How did figure that part, Rose?" Lily asks her.
>"I just got this feeling."
>Reisen looks in the direction of the Avatar's last location. "Okay. But what are we supposed to do now?"
>"You have to destroy the sword."
-
>Wait, who said that?
-
>Wait, who said that?
>Even though the font is nearly incomprehensible, that was the voice of the Champion of Water.
-
>Was that actually said aloud? Is she around somewhere that we can see?
-
>Was that actually said aloud? Is she around somewhere that we can see?
>It was said aloud. And it seems to be coming from your right boot.
-
>Our boot? What? How does that work? Can we find an explanation for this?
-
>Our boot? What? How does that work? Can we find an explanation for this?
>Everything seems normal, apart from some residual water left on your boot from when Patchy hit you with that geyser.
-
>"Louise?"
-
>"Louise?"
>The residual water on your boot shifts ever so slightly. "Yes?"
-
>Well, that's kinda weird
>"Were you expecting this to happen from the start?"
-
>Well, that's kinda weird
>"Were you expecting this to happen from the start?"
>Indeed. You knew the champions had the ability to change their shape, but that was unexpected.
>"That doesn't matter."
-
>"Fine, we can discuss this later. Do you have any further suggestions?"
-
>"Fine, we can discuss this later. Do you have any further suggestions?"
>"Apart from destroying the sword?"
-
>"Yes."
>Can we still not get a good view of Patchouli?
>If not: Can one of you maybe do something about that dust?
-
>Can we still not get a good view of Patchouli?
>If not: Can one of you maybe do something about that dust?
>The dust has cleared enough to reveal that your blast shot her through the wrought iron gate, and out into the street beyond. You think she's standing again, but the aura of visible fury around her is so strong and so black, you can't see her from this distance.
>"Yes."
>"Defend yourself."
>No sooner than the Champion offers this polite warning does there erupt, with the sound of a bomb going off, a comet-like conglomerate of black energy from the furious Avatar, arcing into the air on a trajectory towards you and your comrades.
-
>Do we think we can scatter from the apparent point of impact quickly enough?
-
>Do we think we can scatter from the apparent point of impact quickly enough?
>You think you can. Even Rin, now that you've fixed her leg.
-
>Move!
>Get the heck out of the way! Best speed possible, though try not to scatter too much.
>Be ready to shield ourselves from a blast wave, if the projectile is explosive.
-
>Move!
>Get the heck out of the way! Best speed possible, though try not to scatter too much.
>Be ready to shield ourselves from a blast wave, if the projectile is explosive.
>Scampering back to her feet, White Rose joins you in your flight from the ugly projectile. Lily starts to head the other way, but pauses. Reisen hasn't moved, her eyes fixed on that comet, until Lily grabs her hand. "You heard her, beat feet!" The two women then put some distance between them and Patchy's attack.
>Just before the thing hits the ground, Rin takes your hand. If we need a shield, we do it together, okay?
-
>Right.
>Follow that advice!
-
>Right.
>Follow that advice!
>"Sapphire Lotus!"/"White Rose Guarding Ring!"
>Utilizing a dual tech for defense instead of offense, the result is the usual translucent shield of blue light, but it is thicker than normal, and bordered by a dense white energy. In addition to the extra defense you know if offered by this spell, you can also feel Rin's powerful desire, even need, to protect you, and you are sure that your own drive to keep her safe is translated to her as well.
>And that desire is tested by Patchouli's attack, which does indeed explode upon impact. releasing a sizable shockwave of tangible emotion. When the wave strikes your Guarding Sapphire, you do not register an impact or feel any strain or pain. You do, though, feel an instant of blinding rage. The world before you is obscured by a red veil, and for a moment, you want nothing more than to annihilate everything and everyone in front of you. This all-consuing anger washes over you like a wave, but does not find purchase on your psyche. Your heart is couched in love and concern, even for the woman who attacked you, and you are able to shake off that surge of fury. After a moment's work.
-
>Quickly survey our allies' conditions. Can we even see what became of Lily and Reisen?
-
>Quickly survey our allies' conditions. Can we even see what became of Lily and Reisen?
>The two managed to put a decent amount of distance between themselves and the blast, but unlike you, they don't seem to have made it out as undamaged. Lily is still on her feet and checking on Poppy, who is flat on her back.
-
>Everyone, are you alright?
-
>Everyone, are you alright?
>Rin gives you a nod, while Lily replies, I'm fine, but Reisen used her shield to stop the blast. It couldn't hold it.
>From Reisen herself, there is a pained groan as she moves her leg slightly.
-
>Does Reisen seem affected by the taint and malice in that attack, as far as we can sense, or just injured in a more conventional fashion?
>How exposed is Patchouli's sword, at present? Can we even see it currently beneath her fury aura?
-
>Does Reisen seem affected by the taint and malice in that attack, as far as we can sense, or just injured in a more conventional fashion?
>How exposed is Patchouli's sword, at present? Can we even see it currently beneath her fury aura?
>You don't sense any out of place emotions or power around her. It appears to be more mundane damage. She's still conscious, but it make take her a moment or two to collect herself. Assuming she can.
>You can. That comet took with it a lot of the obscuring energy around Patchy, though not all of it. The Avatar's sword is still in her hand, and her eyes are now black voids, sinkholes filled with ebon flame. She is walking towards you, and it raising her sword again.
-
>Let's move forward quickly and hit that sword with a Violet Lotus. If we have liberty to choose a path, try to move away from our fallen comrade.
-
>Let's move forward quickly and hit that sword with a Violet Lotus. If we have liberty to choose a path, try to move away from our fallen comrade.
>You do have some options of movement available to you, so, as you quickly raise your scepter you turn and head directly away from Reisen. Rin, of course, keeps pace with you as you discharge your Violet light, which, tired though you are, is still as bright as ever, and your aim is true. As Patchy's sword comes over her head, your Violet light strikes the flat of the blade, and black smoke rises from the sword with an angry hiss. A hiss that is mirrored by its wielder. Snarling with mindless hate, Patchouli swings her sword down, cutting through your Violet light and dissipating the attack while simultaneously unleashing another one of her fury cutters like before.
>Quickly coming to your aide, White Rose unleashes another Guarding Ring, sending the white disc out at the incoming cutter, striking it obliquely, and while the Avatar's attack is not blocked, it is sent off-course, just enough to fly past you but not missing you by more than a foot.
>And then the voice of the Champion is back, and she says, "More power." But before you can ask her what she means, Patchy attacks again, this time her sword sending a beam of energy at Rin. Your kasha doesn't have quite enough time to react to the shot, and the black beam strikes her in her right chest, picking her off the ground and sending her violently rolling behind you.
-
>Fire again! Uncork the power we have stored with our Orange Lotus and feed it into our Violet Lotus once it finds purchase in the blade. We have to end this quickly!
-
>Fire again! Uncork the power we have stored with our Orange Lotus and feed it into our Violet Lotus once it finds purchase in the blade. We have to end this quickly!
>Desperate now to end this conflict before anyone else gets hurt, you unleash your Violet light once more. This time, the Avatar reacts with violence faster, and fires another one of those black beams from her sword at you. The collision of black and purple energy generates a mingled ball of power where they meet. You steel yourself. Taking into consideration the non-violent nature of your Violet light, your own fatigue, and the seemingly mindless fury the Avatar has been seized with and its employing, it takes every ounce of your strength not to be pushed backward by the force of the blast. And despite your best efforts, the Avatar's beam starts to push yours back slowly, but surely, and you start to activate your Orange light just to make sure you don't lose this exchange.
>And then a blast of wind strikes the Avatar's hand, failing to disarm her, but knocking her sword aside, forcing her beam off the side of you, landing only a glancing blow on your shoulder which stings like that of a large bee, but does not disrupt your concentration. As you adjust your Violet light to strike the sword, you spare a glance over at the direction of the wind. Sure enough, it is Reisen, on one knee and with Lily supporting her, that has come to your aid. Just as you said to her, together you are stronger than the Avatar. Drawing upon the power stolen by your Orange light, the reinforced Violet energy erupts from your scepter with tremendous force, this time actually forcing you to take a step back to brace yourself. Through the surge of light, you see that oily, evil blade crack, then shatter to pieces in a massive explosion of power. You have just enough time to cover your face with your arm before the blast hits you, carrying you off of your feet and sending you tumbling through the air, which you barely register before your vision swims and your consciousness fades.
>You find yourself on your back when you come to, staring up a sky filled with thick grey clouds that are spitting a cold rain down on you and the rest of the city. Your body feels like a worn-out tooth, there is a trickle of blood coming from your nose, and you have a whopper of a headache.
-
>But if... but if it isn't worse than this, we must have done it, right? ...right?
>Gingerly turn our head to try and assess the present situation
-
>But if... but if it isn't worse than this, we must have done it, right? ...right?
>Gingerly turn our head to try and assess the present situation
>Well, you did see the sword explode. But as for what happened after....
>Not trying to stifle the groan that escapes your lips, you assess the situation as best as you can. Rin doesn't seem to have been shifted much by that blast wave, as she is still where she fell after the sword's beam struck her, and though she is bleeding again from the wounds on her leg and tail, she doesn't seem to be bleeding from anywhere else. Both Lily and Reisen were blown backwards by the shockwave as well, and though they are both intact, you can't tell how badly either one has been hurt from this angle. Nor can you see Patchy from down here.
-
>Is... is everyone alright?
>Try to pull ourselves upright enough to scan for Patchy. Slowly.
-
>Is... is everyone alright?
>Try to pull ourselves upright enough to scan for Patchy. Slowly.
>Reisen manages a quiet mental groan, though she does not rise. I... I think so. Give me a minute... Neither Lily nor White Rose reply.
>Very carefully, you pull your upper body up off the ground. It is with tremendous relief that you see Patchy, like your comrades, has hit the dirt. She is lying on her side, appears to be unconscious, her clothing has returned to normal, and she no longer exudes that aura of rage. In fact, she doesn't exude any aura at all.
>And neither does The Champion of Water crouching down next to her.
-
>Looking perfectly humanoid and not puddle-like in shape at the moment?
>Did she remember her clothing this time?
>Are we close enough to Rin to go examine her condition, since she seems to be unconscious at least?
-
>Looking perfectly humanoid and not puddle-like in shape at the moment?
>Did she remember her clothing this time?
>Are we close enough to Rin to go examine her condition, since she seems to be unconscious at least?
>Correct.
>She did. Very polite of her.
>You believe so.
-
>Then let's go check on Rin first
-
>Then let's go check on Rin first
>Louise can keep for now, you have other worries. Taking a moment to brace yourself, you laboriously haul yourself to your feet. Your head doesn't feel any worse in the action, and though your legs are not completely firm beneath you, they seem to support your weight well enough.
>"You really should take it easy, Hero." Louise calls after you as you turn from her and make your way back to your Rin. "That explosion hurt me, it must have been dreadful for you."
-
>"I have to make sure they're okay."
>Go make sure she's okay
-
>"I have to make sure they're okay."
>Go make sure she's okay
>"They're alive, I can assure you of that." Louise says reassuringly. And not that you don't believe her, but you'll feel better once you check them yourself, starting with Rin. Like you, her nose has bled a little as well, but that seems to have stopped. The wounds on her tail and leg still bleed, but only very slightly. Her breathing, while not entirely normal, is neither faint nor weak enough to cause you great concern. You suspect that, like you, she was KO'd by that last blast, but since she took that sword beam shot first, it may take her longer to come to than you took.
>"I must say," the Champion says conversationally, "I thought you handled that very well."
-
>"You expected worse?"
-
>"You expected worse?"
>"Once you knocked her out and the sword took over, I expected at the least that someone would lose a limb. But here we are, with all five of you alive and intact." The Champion seems oddly satisfied at that.
-
>"You obviously know more about what transpired here than you first let on; I would appreciate hearing it."
-
>"You obviously know more about what transpired here than you first let on; I would appreciate hearing it."
>"What would you like to know?"
-
>"Well, we can start with what was up with that sword. I've gotten the impression you anticipated both its presence and the effect it would have on Patchouli, and were counting on us to destroy it from the start. Is that correct?"
-
>"Well, we can start with what was up with that sword. I've gotten the impression you anticipated both its presence and the effect it would have on Patchouli, and were counting on us to destroy it from the start. Is that correct?"
>"No."
-
>"What was it, though? It appeared as though she had conjured that sword herself. You say that she was unconscious during the last part of the battle? How could her own construct possess her in that fashion? Was there something else to it?"
-
>"What was it, though? It appeared as though she had conjured that sword herself. You say that she was unconscious during the last part of the battle? How could her own construct possess her in that fashion? Was there something else to it?"
>You need to pause for breath in the middle of that spiel. You are far from your normal self.
>Louise actually giggles quietly, "So full of questions, even after that kind of fight. If you meet Mother, I suppose you'll be questioning her for a week."
-
>"I just might at that."
-
>"I just might at that."
>Chuckling again, Louise turns her head down to her Avatar. "Her anger, her need for revenge, is deeper than you know. That sword she manifested was an expression of that rage. She used it, but she still maintained some semblance of rationality. But then you four blasted her, and knocked her out, but you didn't destroy the sword. That meant her anger was still active even if her brain wasn't, only now it was turned on you four, the ones who were keeping her from her revenge."
-
>"Does that mean nothing will have changed when she comes to again?"
-
>"Does that mean nothing will have changed when she comes to again?"
>"Are you worried that you'll have to do this all over again?"
-
>"The thought had occurred to me. And beyond that, she was a good friend to more than one of us. It hurts to see her as she was today - to think that woman may be forever gone."
-
>"The thought had occurred to me. And beyond that, she was a good friend to more than one of us. It hurts to see her as she was today - to think that woman may be forever gone."
>"She will not be back here for revenge. Now that you've beaten her, I am able to convince her that she already has her revenge."
-
>"Already has her revenge?"
-
>"Already has her revenge?"
>Louise nods. "By achieving not only this kind of power, but doing so while escaping the controlling influence of her parents. Now, I could not convince her of that until she at least tried to take her own kind of revenge. Such is the nature of anger. It had to run its course. But I also knew that I couldn't stop her without damaging her. As you may have noticed, my power is not as benign as yours."
>"But...." the voice of Reisen interjects. She has pulled herself up into a seated position, and you can see now that one of her eyes is nearly swollen shut, and she is bleeding from a cut on her upper arm. "Why would you... want to stop her?"
>Louise turns her head to face the wounded rabbit. "Because she would not have stopped with this. And she is too valuable to me, to us, to lose her to her own anger."
-
>"And you really think this will be enough?"
-
>"And you really think this will be enough?"
>"If I did not believe so, I would not have said so." Louise states matter of factly.
-
>"Fair enough. But she still will be something different than the woman she was, won't she? Not simply in power, but in heart."
-
>"Fair enough. But she still will be something different than the woman she was, won't she? Not simply in power, but in heart."
>"She will be herself." Louise answers as she, rather gently, picks Patchouli off the ground. "She was always the Avatar of Water, Magical Lotus. Despite her parents best efforts. As for who, exactly, the Avatar is?" The Champion looks down at the comatose form in her arms, and smiles. "I myself will learn that very soon."
-
>"I wanted to ask you what it is Avatars are. Air said that her Avatar had died in past, and yet up to this morning had seemed to have been living a normal life as a normal woman. The power she gave her, she said was supposed to have been hers from the moment she was born, and yet Sanae also spoke of how she became an Avatar after being cast into Makai. I'd like to understand."
-
>"I wanted to ask you what it is Avatars are. Air said that her Avatar had died in past, and yet up to this morning had seemed to have been living a normal life as a normal woman. The power she gave her, she said was supposed to have been hers from the moment she was born, and yet Sanae also spoke of how she became an Avatar after being cast into Makai. I'd like to understand."
>"Of course you would. But I believe you understand why I can't tell you everything."
-
>"But surely you can tell me something."
-
>"But surely you can tell me something."
>"I could tell you everything. If you were on our side."
-
>"There is another reason I ask this. I can... remember things that I do not understand. An old memory I cannot place. I was with seven other people, and one of them was Sanae - the Avatar of Air - only her body was covered in horrible burns. There was a tall motherly woman smiling at us. She said "I can't do this without you." I don't remember what this was, but I felt it was important. There was... there was a bloody hole in my chest, where my heart should be."
-
>"There is another reason I ask this. I can... remember things that I do not understand. An old memory I cannot place. I was with seven other people, and one of them was Sanae - the Avatar of Air - only her body was covered in horrible burns. There was a tall motherly woman smiling at us. She said "I can't do this without you." I don't remember what this was, but I felt it was important. There was... there was a bloody hole in my chest, where my heart should be."
>"You're asking a demon about one of your nightmares?"
-
>"I don't believe it was a nightmare. Even Sanae herself reacted as though what I said rang true, though she did not understand how I could have known it."
-
>"I don't believe it was a nightmare. Even Sanae herself reacted as though what I said rang true, though she did not understand how I could have known it."
>"And nor do I."
-
>"But you do recognize something in what I said?"
-
>"But you do recognize something in what I said?"
>"If what you describe is a memory of yours, Hero, it is not one I share. If it involves the Avatar of Air, perhaps you should ask her, or her Champion." She chuckles sourly. "Though getting useful information out of Air might be a challenge even for you."
-
>"I did ask. Neither were very responsive at the time. But even if you weren't there yourself, you know something about how the Avatars came to be in the first place, surely? I feel very strongly this is connected."
-
>"I did ask. Neither were very responsive at the time. But even if you weren't there yourself, you know something about how the Avatars came to be in the first place, surely? I feel very strongly this is connected."
>Louise smiles. "Well. I AM a Champion."
-
>"Is there anything of this you can share with me? Please."
-
>"Is there anything of this you can share with me? Please."
>Louise shakes her head. "I can't. You're still our enemy, Lotus, and you're smart. I will give you nothing you might be able to use against us."
-
>"You know I oppose only the more violent of your methods, not the freedom you seek through using them. In the truest victory I would wish, your kind are free and safe and forever beyond Makai. Does that sound like a defeat for you?"
-
>"You know I oppose only the more violent of your methods, not the freedom you seek through using them. In the truest victory I would wish, your kind are free and safe and forever beyond Makai. Does that sound like a defeat for you?"
>"That choice isn't mine to make, Lotus. Though I am called Champion, I am also a soldier. And my orders are absoulte."
>"There's no such thing as absolute orders." Reisen growls, back on her feet now. Barely. "A soldier isn't a slave."
>"For you Terrans, maybe, but we Children are beholden to the will of our Mother." For a moment, Louise looks just a little troubled. "Even if we don't always understand them."
-
>"And do her orders specifically forbid cooperation? Demand killing? If the barrier falls and you gain your freedom, does it matter exactly how you accomplish this? You obviously have some leeway in how to pursue your assigned goals, as I have seen all of you Champions make judgement calls of your own."
-
>"And do her orders specifically forbid cooperation? Demand killing? If the barrier falls and you gain your freedom, does it matter exactly how you accomplish this? You obviously have some leeway in how to pursue your assigned goals, as I have seen all of you Champions make judgement calls of your own."
>"Of course they don't forbid cooperation." Louise retorts. "Did you think I'd keep asking you to join us if it was forbidden? I've seen your power and your skill. You and yours could help us tremendously. Even the agents of the Celestials wouldn't stand a chance against us with you five on our side."
-
>"And if they would try to kill you simply for who you are, then we are already on your side. I will no more see your kind preyed upon than my own. We fought alongside Fire and Ice just last night, and advocated on your kind's behalf to the mikos who distrusted them. Just because we do not serve beneath your Mother does not mean our goals must oppose each other. You wanted us to stop your Avatar from walking down a path of needless destruction, yes? From all we've spoken, I do not think you are indifferent to the value of life. If there was a path to your liberation that did not require it, surely you could see the value in that too?"
-
>"And if they would try to kill you simply for who you are, then we are already on your side. I will no more see your kind preyed upon than my own. We fought alongside Fire and Ice just last night, and advocated on your kind's behalf to the mikos who distrusted them. Just because we do not serve beneath your Mother does not mean our goals must oppose each other. You wanted us to stop your Avatar from walking down a path of needless destruction, yes? From all we've spoken, I do not think you are indifferent to the value of life. If there was a path to your liberation that did not require it, surely you could see the value in that too?"
>"It doesn't matter, Lotus." the Champion says quietly. "I may not approach this fight the same way Air or the others do, but I'm a Champion. This is the path Mother has ordered me down. I will obey. There is no choice."
>"But I do believe you when you say you are willing to fight the Celestials if they come, which they will. In fact, they're probably already in the city. And they'll be coming for you, too. So be on your guard."
-
>Let out a small sigh
>"It seems lately we're in the habit of fighting a battle on as many fronts at once as possible."
>"But you say 'there is no choice', do you mean then that true subjugation of this world is the specific goal you have been ordered to accomplish, and not merely the most obvious means to attain that goal? In other words, that conquest is your purpose here, and not merely a tool to obtain your freedom?"
-
>Let out a small sigh
>"It seems lately we're in the habit of fighting a battle on as many fronts at once as possible."
>"But you say 'there is no choice', do you mean then that true subjugation of this world is the specific goal you have been ordered to accomplish, and not merely the most obvious means to attain that goal? In other words, that conquest is your purpose here, and not merely a tool to obtain your freedom?"
>"Does it matter?" Louise asks quietly, taking a quick glance up into the sky. "The result is the same. And either way would bring us into conflict."
-
>"It does matter. Because unless conquest is specifically and explicitly required by your Mother's will - and not merely the expected result of that conquest - then we can find some way to satisfy your orders that does not demand the suffering of innocents. Even if whatever other method might seem more difficult, surely that could be offset by having us as allies in its pursuit rather than enemies?"
-
>"It does matter. Because unless conquest is specifically and explicitly required by your Mother's will - and not merely the expected result of that conquest - then we can find some way to satisfy your orders that does not demand the suffering of innocents. Even if whatever other method might seem more difficult, surely that could be offset by having us as allies in its pursuit rather than enemies?"
>"And if it is?"
-
>"Then I suppose I shall have to go and try to speak with your Mother myself."
-
>"Then I suppose I shall have to go and try to speak with your Mother myself."
>"You'd never survive." Louise replies quickly, her voice regaining its former volume. "The envorinment of Makai would liquify your body upon arrival. Do not go to Makai, Lotus. You life would only be wasted." In her arms, Patchouli groans quietly. "And fighting the environment would drain your powers so much and so quickly that the predators of Makai would devour you effortlessly. Do not go to Makai. You deserve a better fate than a meaningless, agonizing death." Sparing a glance at Patchy, she says, "I must leave now. She should not be here when she awakes."
-
>"No, perhaps she shouldn't. And I take your warning, but if what it's going to take to end this conflict without either of us losing is convincing Mother to change her mind, then I will simply have to figure out some way to do it - Makai or no."
-
>"No, perhaps she shouldn't. And I take your warning, but if what it's going to take to end this conflict without either of us losing is convincing Mother to change her mind, then I will simply have to figure out some way to do it - Makai or no."
>The blonde demon gives you a smile that is nearly as sad as the Ice Champion's eyes. "Good luck." she says quietly, and you have no doubts at all that she means it. And then she is gone, vanished in a blur of blue light.
-
>Let out a heavy breath and survey the damage
>I am sorry, Reisen. I had hoped it would work out better than this.
-
>Let out a heavy breath and survey the damage
>I am sorry, Reisen. I had hoped it would work out better than this.
>And damage there is. The once well kept grounds of the Knowledge family manor are now a smoldering expanse of cinders, with only a few patches of green left between the damage caused by Patchouli's wild powers. The fountain that stood once is still intact, but there are chunks of the stone work missing, and the water, partially blocked by rubble, now trickles down onto the blackened grass and pulverized walkway. The manor house itself, though, is still intact, though a couple of windows have been blown out.
>Reisen, though, has her attention on the sky, and her expression is one of outrage. "I'm going to find you. I'm going to save her, and I'm going make you PAY for THIS!" And then she falls to her knees, as though screaming her defiance after the retreating Champion drained what power she had left. No.... No, she was right. Patchouli had to be stopped.
-
>Yes, but... I had hoped that maybe we would have her back again, once this was over. That maybe we would have some answers. And now I fear we have neither...
>Walk over and give Reisen a hug. She could probably use one right now, and frankly - so could we.
-
>Yes, but... I had hoped that maybe we would have her back again, once this was over. That maybe we would have some answers. And now I fear we have neither...
>Walk over and give Reisen a hug. She could probably use one right now, and frankly - so could we.
>It isn't over, Byakuren. Reisen wearily replies as you cross the blasted ruin of the yard to her. I was soldier enough to know that one fight doesn't end a war, unless it's a massacre. But everyone lived today. There'll be another battle. But when you take her in your arms, you feel her tired body tremble, and she fiercely hugs you back. "I want her back..."
-
>"So do I...."
-
>"So do I...."
>"What do we do now?"
-
>"Tend to our wounded, rest and regroup. And pray that nothing else urgent happens in the meantime."
>"Sanae's parents recognized something in what Sanae said after she became an Avatar. I'd like to try and talk with them. ...though I wonder how much they'll want to speak with me, after I let Elis do what she did. I had wanted to trust in what she said. A great many things today have not turned out the way I had hoped."
>Is Anya still lying neglected on the doors of the mansion?
-
>"Tend to our wounded, rest and regroup. And pray that nothing else urgent happens in the meantime."
>"Sanae's parents recognized something in what Sanae said after she became an Avatar. I'd like to try and talk with them. ...though I wonder how much they'll want to speak with me, after I let Elis do what she did. I had wanted to trust in what she said. A great many things today have not turned out the way I had hoped."
>Pulling herself together, Reisen nods, looking down at Lily. "That blast hit her pretty hard. How's R- White Rose?"
>"There was no choice, I saw. It took four of us to beat Patchouli, and there were only three of you to fight that woman back at Moonside."
>Is Anya still lying neglected on the doors of the mansion?
>No. She is no longer in evidence at all, and the large, slightly scored doors are starting to open.
-
>Starting to open? As in, someone appears to be coming out? Who?
>"It is not that I have any confidence we could have succeeded in stopping her, but that - for a moment - I thought something good might have come of allowing it. You heard Suwako scream at me to shoot her, too."
>"And Rose doesn't seem to have any serious injuries, at least. Though we're all battered, of course."
-
>"It is not that I have any confidence we could have succeeded in stopping her, but that - for a moment - I thought something good might have come of allowing it. You heard Suwako scream at me to shoot her, too."
>"And Rose doesn't seem to have any serious injuries, at least. Though we're all battered, of course."
>"I saw what was happening to Patchouli, too." Reisen says. "That could have happened to Sanae, too."
>"We're all alive." Reisen repeats, this time the words bringing a small smile to her face. "That sounds good. We're all alive."
>Starting to open? As in, someone appears to be coming out? Who?
>That question is answered a second after you think it, and for a moment, you swear that it is Patchouli herself who comes out of the house. But a closer look shows the differences. This woman is taller than Patchy, wears a pair of red-rimmed glasses, and her hair, a shade darker than your friends, is a bit shoter, and tied into twintails, a look you've never seen Patchy wear. She looks so much like Patchy that she has to be a relative of hers. You'd guess older sister, but Patchy never mentioned a sister before. She even has the same studious look to her face, but this woman's also shows a level of habitual compassion that Patchouli lacks as well.
-
>Smile tentatively
>"We're alive. And so are other people, because of we we did here. Maybe it wasn't the victory I'd hoped for, but it still mattered."
>"...and speaking of which, do you recognize that woman by the door?"
-
>Smile tentatively
>"We're alive. And so are other people, because of we we did here. Maybe it wasn't the victory I'd hoped for, but it still mattered."
>"...and speaking of which, do you recognize that woman by the door?"
>"Oh yes." Reisen says with a smile. "It matters. So much..."
>The rabbit turns her head to have a look. "That... is Alisaie. That's Patchy's aunt. She must be visiting." 'Aunt' is NOT what you were expecting.
>"Are you girls all right?" the woman calls from the door.
-
>Aunt? She could pass for an older sister, I think.
>Call back: "I think so, thank you. Some injuries, but I believe we should be okay now."
-
>Aunt? She could pass for an older sister, I think.
>Call back: "I think so, thank you. Some injuries, but I believe we should be okay now."
>I thought so, too, the first time I met her. She takes it as a compliment.
>"You must come inside, I will look at your injuries." the elder Knowledge replies. Her words are colored with a moderate Francais accent, and you'd guess that that is her first language.
>That might not be a bad idea. Reisen adds silently. She's a doctor back in Francais.
-
>"I appreciate the offer, but two of our companions are still unconscious and it might be best not to drag them. It is safe out here now, though."
-
>"I appreciate the offer, but two of our companions are still unconscious and it might be best not to drag them. It is safe out here now, though."
>"That is no problem. I will summon help."
-
>"Well, I won't say no."
-
>"Well, I won't say no."
>As the bespectacled woman leaves the doorway of the manor, you feel a surge of magic swell up around her. A green gassy cloud billows out of the aether, following along next to her for a few seconds. As she reaches some open ground, she raises her hand partly, then pauses. "Try not to be too surprised, she doesn't like a lot of shouting." After her warning, the cloud of expands and takes a shape, coalescing itself into an emerald green dragon, standing a touch over seven feet tall walking on its hind legs, as it is now, with long, powerful looking arms, a sinuous tail and, you hope, a smile upon its round-ish head.
-
>Nod politely to it
>"Greetings."
-
>Nod politely to it
>"Greetings."
>"Greetings." the dragon replies in perfect Yamato.
>"If you please, would you carry the two fallen girls inside?" Alisaie asks her summoned help.
>"As you command."
>"Be careful with them." the mage reminds her dragon. "We owe them much. And you two?" she asks you and the visibly stunned Reisen.
-
>Offer a tentative smile
>"I can still walk, anyway."
-
>"That's, tha- That's a dragon." Reisen stammers out. "That's a dragon, right? That's a dragon?"
-
>"Well, it does appear so."
>Slightly larger than the one the other night, admittedly.
-
>"Well, it does appear so."
>Slightly larger than the one the other night, admittedly.
>I- I didn't know she could do that.
>"My family are experts in the fields of magic." Alisaie explains to Poppy as her dragon, which reeks of chlorine up close, lifts Lily off the ground. "I am a summoner."
-
>"Even so, to summon a dragon is a rare thing."
-
>"Even so, to summon a dragon is a rare thing."
>Alisaie seems humble at your statement. "I am sorry I could not do so sooner. I was not allowed."
-
>"Not allowed?"
-
>"Not allowed?"
>"No, and I apologize. But we should talk inside, it is wet and cold, and you must need to rest very much."
-
>"We certainly could use some rest, yes. This isn't even the first battle we've fought just this morning."
>Let's follow Alisaie back to the mansion
-
>"We certainly could use some rest, yes. This isn't even the first battle we've fought just this morning."
>Let's follow Alisaie back to the mansion
>Observing the green dragon hoisiting Rin, you follow the mage towards the house, noting that, unlike Patchouli or her mother, her ears are slightly pointed. It's a bit unusualy for there to be that kind of physical discrepency among non-human families. Usually ear structure is universal, at least to your knowledge.
>Despite the doors being a decent size, the green dragon has to duck down a ways to fit through the entrance. You and Reisen stay close to each other as you follow the big beast and its summoner into the spacious foyer, through a much more cramped hallway that forces the dragon to fold its wings in around its body just to fit. "You had to call me for this?" it grumbles to Alisaie. "You know I do not like this place."
>"You didn't have to come." the mage protests limply.
>"Oh, don't be that way. I simply would have preferred to have been here during the fighting. I am no nurse."
>Byakuren? Reisen says quietly. How do you not... freak out around dragons?
-
>After youma and demons and incarnations of death, I find myself growing strangely accustomed to this sort of thing.
>"If you will forgive my rudeness, but if you would have preferred it, then who was it who did not permit it?"
-
>After youma and demons and incarnations of death, I find myself growing strangely accustomed to this sort of thing.
>"If you will forgive my rudeness, but if you would have preferred it, then who was it who did not permit it?"
>You Terrans are pretty tough. On the moon, Dragons are what some parents tell their kids about to scare them into acting right. Still amazes me that it's different here.
>"Ask her." the dragon grumbles as it comes to a stop alongside a black and red-painted door. The only black paint you've seen in here, now that you think about it, purple, blue and white have been the dominant colors of the manor. "And one of you two will have to carry your friend." it adds as it turns and hands Lily off to Alisaie. "I can't fit through there."
-
>"Give her to me."
>Accept our poor injured girlfriend and carry her inside
-
>"Give her to me."
>Accept our poor injured girlfriend and carry her inside
>You accept the kasha as the dragon uses its dextrous tail to push the door open for Alisae. Rin is not a heavy girl, but in your current condition you do have to work not to drop her, or fall down yourself. Reisen thoughtfully supports you from behind as you enter the room after Alisaie. It is not an overly attractive room, the walls painted a drab beige, the carpet a cheap off-white affair. It is a fairly large room, though, with eight beds lined up, four on either side of the room, each one with a small table on one side and a closet on the other. A pair of large mirrors dominate the back wall, and there are two doors, one on the west wall, on on the east.
>At the moment, only one such bed is occupied, by the Metal miko Anya. She is sporting a bandage over her eye and appears to be sleeping.
>Alisaie lays Lily down on the bed across from Anya's. "This servants room. It is not pretty, but it has the most beds in the house."
-
>"The decor is unimportant."
>Lay Rin down gently on another bed.
-
>"The decor is unimportant."
>Lay Rin down gently on another bed.
>"Try saying that after a few months of living here." the dragon rumbles from out in the hall as you, relieve yourself of your burden. After which, Reisen heavily sits down upon the bed next to hers, with a heavy sigh exploding from the tired rabbit.
>"Never mind about that." the summoner chides her dragon as she crosses the room and retreives a red and black leather bag from the table next to Anya's and asks you, "The fighting is over now?"
-
>"For now, yes. I wish I could say how long a reprieve we'll have."
-
>"For now, yes. I wish I could say how long a reprieve we'll have."
>She nods then turns to her dragon. "I dissmiss you."
>"I'll collect later." the dragon replies in a lilting tone as it dissolves into the green smoke from whence it came, which vanishes moments later, leaving only the scent of chlorine to waft through the room.
>Alisae retreives a stethoscope from her case and checks Lily's heartbeat. "You mentioned another fight. Any injuries from that one?"
-
>"A little. Not as bad, though."
>Let's go plant ourselves on a bed, too. No need to keep standing now if we don't have to.
-
>"A little. Not as bad, though."
>Let's go plant ourselves on a bed, too. No need to keep standing now if we don't have to.
>"Please tell me. I am a doctor." she states, repeating what Reisen told you earlier as she checks Lily's pulse.
>As she talks, you plonk yourself down next to Reisen, the rabbit having fallen back to lay down parallel-wise on the bed.
-
>"Well, Rose had her eardrums ruptured." Gesture to her. "Though I believe someone else already tended to that in the meantime. Several of us got hit by lightning magic, though I avoided the worst of it myself."
-
>"Well, Rose had her eardrums ruptured." Gesture to her. "Though I believe someone else already tended to that in the meantime. Several of us got hit by lightning magic, though I avoided the worst of it myself."
>Alisaie looks up sharply as you explain what happened to Rin during the brawl with Air, and quickly shifts her position to the kasha. "A cat youkai's ears are very sensitive and important. She should see a specialist regardless of what I say or see, to make sure." she informs you strictly. "Unless that someone else was a specialist?"
-
>"Not to the best of my knowledge, though she did work some healing magic on them. I wasn't there to witness most of the exchange."
-
>"Not to the best of my knowledge, though she did work some healing magic on them. I wasn't there to witness most of the exchange."
>"Magic is well and good, but is not always a substitute for a real doctor, especially a specialist." Alisaie replies, not with the arrogance you'd expect from the other older Knowledge woman you met, but simply as a matter of fact.
>"So, you're a doctor and a summoner?" Reisen asks her as she carefully examines Rin's ears.
>In a more subdued voice, considering her location, Alisaie answers, "Yes. I was a doctor before I was a mage."
-
>"An interesting career path, given what you just summoned."
-
>"An interesting career path, given what you just summoned."
>"I wanted to make people well." the woman replies modestly. "I would have preferred to stay in that career, but I am a Knowledge. I was not given that option." Wrapping up her look at Rin's head, she looks up at you. "I do not see any structural damage, but if her eardrums were ruptured, there may still be some lingering effects. Her ears may be more sensitive than normal for a time. Try to keep her protected from loud noises for at least a day, to be safe."
-
>"I'll do my best."
-
>"I'll do my best."
>Alisaie nods and resumes her examination of the still unconscious Rin, wincing at the sight of the wounds on her leg and tail. "Would one of you mind assisting me for a moment?"
>"I will." Reisen says quickly, clapping you briefly on the shoulder as she comes to her feet.
>"Please, hold up her leg." the doctor asks as she retreives a roll of bandages from her bag, wrapping first the wound on her leg, then her tail, with Reisen's assistance. Her compassionate face betrays her sadness as she does so. "I am sorry this happened to you all. You were wounded defending a family that should have been able to defend itself."
-
>"What do you mean?"
-
>"What do you mean?"
>"Magic is strong in The Knowledge family." she replies as she stands, walking over to the door. "For generations, the Knowledges have studied the arcane." After closing the door, she lowers her voice and adds, "But that strength is not what it was. Once, the Knowledges would have been willing, been able, to defend themselves from that kind of being. But this is not as true now. If it were not for you five brave girls, we would have been helpless. For that, I give you my gratitide, and my deepest apologies." The quiet woman bows her head to you.
-
>"Please, there's nothing to apologize for. No one should feel any shame for being unable to stand against that kind of destructive power. I am simply glad we were able to prevent anything worse from happening."
-
>"Please, there's nothing to apologize for. No one should feel any shame for being unable to stand against that kind of destructive power. I am simply glad we were able to prevent anything worse from happening."
>She's not like any Knowledge I've ever met before. Reisen remarks telepathically. Strong enough to summon a dragon, humble enough to bow her head to strangers? I can see now why Madame and Lord Knowledge don't talk much about her.
-
>I imagine they don't see eye to eye on more than a handful of things.
-
>I imagine they don't see eye to eye on more than a handful of things.
>Alisaie offers you a tentative smile. "It is kind of you to say so. But still I feel indebted to you. If there is anything you need, please, ask."
-
>"How much of the battle did you witness, anyway?"
-
>"How much of the battle did you witness, anyway?"
>"Not a lot." Alisaie admits, turning once more to her examination of Lily. "I was tending to the shrine maiden. Once I was allowed to bring her inside."
-
>"Did you... see who we were fighting?"
-
>"Did you... see who we were fighting?"
>"Not clearly, no."
-
>Perhaps it would be kinder if I didn't tell her.
-
>Perhaps it would be kinder if I didn't tell her.
>Perhaps. Reisen agrees. But she's probably going to find out sooner or later. You can be sure that Patchy's parents knew.
-
>You feel certain of this?
-
>You feel certain of this?
>There's no way at least one of them doesn't know. Unless neither one of them was home. She pauses briefly before adding, Alisaie may have been preoccupied with the wounded, but those two wouldn't have that problem.
-
>Heavy sigh
>"I'm very sorry to deliver more bad news, but I'm afraid it was Patchouli."
-
>Heavy sigh
>"I'm very sorry to deliver more bad news, but I'm afraid it was Patchouli."
>Alisaie stops her examination of Lily long enough to say, "I don't think that's funny."
-
>"No. It isn't. But nonetheless, I'm afraid it's true. This morning, Patchouli was touched by a being of great power from another world and became... something else. Some latent connection that existed between the two of them was made manifest, and not only did it grant her the enormous power you witnessed here, but her personality was... different. The woman we fought here today may not have been Patchouli as you knew her, but it was Patchouli."
>Bow our head
>"And I am deeply, deeply sorry that we have not yet been able to save her."
-
>"No. It isn't. But nonetheless, I'm afraid it's true. This morning, Patchouli was touched by a being of great power from another world and became... something else. Some latent connection that existed between the two of them was made manifest, and not only did it grant her the enormous power you witnessed here, but her personality was... different. The woman we fought here today may not have been Patchouli as you knew her, but it was Patchouli."
>Bow our head
>"And I am deeply, deeply sorry that we have not yet been able to save her."
>The mage stops again. "I'm... I don't, understand."
-
>"There is much I don't yet understand about what happened to her myself, but I can try to explain what I do. Where would you like me to start?"
-
>"There is much I don't yet understand about what happened to her myself, but I can try to explain what I do. Where would you like me to start?"
>"You say that... the person you were fighting was Patchouli Knowledge? My Little Patchy?"
-
>"I'm afraid so."
-
>"I'm afraid so."
>"But, how?"
-
>"This may sound confusing or far-fetched. I apologize; there is much I still don't understand, but I will do my best."
>"Earlier this morning, Patchouli came into close contact with a woman from Makai known as the Champion of Water. There was some kind of spiritual link between them - one that existed even before they met today, though I do not know how or why. But profound enough that separation from each other seemed to be having acutely negative physical effects on both of them. When they met, the Champion bestowed something upon Patchouli... they both claimed it was some deep part of her that she had been missing up to that moment - the other half of her heart. And that is when Patchouli changed."
>"She still seems to remember her old life, her old friends, and certainly her old grievances, but there was a vengeful anger to her quite unlike her previous demeanor. And of course, that monstrous power you witnessed today. She now calls herself the Avatar of Water, and seemed even to dislike being called Patchouli, though nonetheless some part of the woman she was is still inside there."
-
>"This may sound confusing or far-fetched. I apologize; there is much I still don't understand, but I will do my best."
>"Earlier this morning, Patchouli came into close contact with a woman from Makai known as the Champion of Water. There was some kind of spiritual link between them - one that existed even before they met today, though I do not know how or why. But profound enough that separation from each other seemed to be having acutely negative physical effects on both of them. When they met, the Champion bestowed something upon Patchouli... they both claimed it was some deep part of her that she had been missing up to that moment - the other half of her heart. And that is when Patchouli changed."
>"She still seems to remember her old life, her old friends, and certainly her old grievances, but there was a vengeful anger to her quite unlike her previous demeanor. And of course, that monstrous power you witnessed today. She now calls herself the Avatar of Water, and seemed even to dislike being called Patchouli, though nonetheless some part of the woman she was is still inside there."
>To her credit, despite the look on her face when you mention Louise's homeland, Alisaie manages to wait until you finish talking before she says, "Makai?"
-
>"Yes."
-
>"Yes."
>"But that's a legend."
-
>"I'm afraid not. It is very real, and several of its inhabitants have recently breached the barrier between worlds to come to this city. Of this, I am utterly certain."
-
>"I'm afraid not. It is very real, and several of its inhabitants have recently breached the barrier between worlds to come to this city. Of this, I am utterly certain."
>"But why- How could something from Makai have any kind of connection to Little Patchy?
-
>"That I don't know at all, but would very much like to find out. Patchouli is not the only person in this position. Another girl today became the Avatar of Air, with another dramatic change in temperament, and I suspect there are still others with latent connections to the Champions. What information I have about what even happened to them is skeletal, vague, or sometimes outright impossible-sounding. The Avatar of Air said that Patchouli had been 'cast into Makai, just as she was', though I don't know what to make of this."
-
>"That I don't know at all, but would very much like to find out. Patchouli is not the only person in this position. Another girl today became the Avatar of Air, with another dramatic change in temperament, and I suspect there are still others with latent connections to the Champions. What information I have about what even happened to them is skeletal, vague, or sometimes outright impossible-sounding. The Avatar of Air said that Patchouli had been 'cast into Makai, just as she was', though I don't know what to make of this."
>"That doesn't make any sense at all. Little Patchy's never left this world, my sister would never have allowed it." Then she pauses and covers her mouth with her fingers. You can hear her mutter, in Francais, "I shouldn't have said that."
-
>"And why not? if there's anything, no matter how slight or insignificant or unlikely, that anything I have said brings to mind, I would ask that you share it with us. A great many lives rest upon events that are currently in motion regarding Makai and its Champions, and any scrap of information might prove valuable in safeguarding others from the threats to come. This is our duty."
-
>"And why not? if there's anything, no matter how slight or insignificant or unlikely, that anything I have said brings to mind, I would ask that you share it with us. A great many lives rest upon events that are currently in motion regarding Makai and its Champions, and any scrap of information might prove valuable in safeguarding others from the threats to come. This is our duty."
>"What? Oh my, you, you speak Francais?"
-
>How good is our Francais?
>And how'd we end up picking it up?
-
>How good is our Francais?
>And how'd we end up picking it up?
>You are quite fluent in Francais. Short of weird regional dialects, which every language has a few of, you can converse with native Francais speakers without difficulty.
>You've studied it since you were young. Which you started because, simply, you liked the sound of it.
-
>"I do, yes. And I apologize; I'm sure you meant that to be private, but this is a matter of the utmost importance."
-
> Did we study real (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France) French or fake (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canada) French? 8)
-
As both a linguist and a Canadian, I must object to your assertion of fakeness!
(Also, clearly Byakuren knows double-fake French here)
-
Sounds like something a fake Frenchie would say.
-
>"I do, yes. And I apologize; I'm sure you meant that to be private, but this is a matter of the utmost importance."
>"Well... It's just, it's not my place to talk about family matters."
> Did we study real (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France) French or fake (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canada) French? 8)
>Whichever impresses the ladies more.
-
I was going to quip back at 'fake Frenchie' in French, only to realize that my own French is so bad at this point that I don't even know how to do that properly. >.>
>"I don't mean to put you on the spot, but I'm grasping for anything that might help explain some of what's happened. If it helps at all, we were both good friends of Patchouli. I'm well aware of the... tensions between her and her parents."
-
I was going to quip back at 'fake Frenchie' in French, only to realize that my own French is so bad at this point that I don't even know how to do that properly. >.>
>"I don't mean to put you on the spot, but I'm grasping for anything that might help explain some of what's happened. If it helps at all, we were both good friends of Patchouli. I'm well aware of the... tensions between her and her parents."
Mala-Francais?
>"How could you... She spoke of it to you?"
>"Yes she did." Poppy adds. "It really was no secret, not to us."
>"She must have considered you good friends, indeed." That thought makes the francais doctor smile.
-
>"It makes it all the harder to see what's happened to her."
>"So please, if there is anything with the slightest chance of being relevant, I'd ask if you could share it. Perhaps it's not my place to say, but I feel like this matter is more important than discretion."
-
>"It makes it all the harder to see what's happened to her."
>"So please, if there is anything with the slightest chance of being relevant, I'd ask if you could share it. Perhaps it's not my place to say, but I feel like this matter is more important than discretion."
>Reisen adds with a nod, "The more we know about what's happened to Patchouli, the better chance we have of turning her back to normal."
>"But... I don't think I know anything that might help you." Alisaie replies helplessly. "I didn't... Well, Little Patchy wasn't the only one that had... strained relationship with her parents."
-
>"Go on."
-
>"Go on."
>The twintailed doctor turns away from Lily and sits heavily down on the bed next to her. Plainly this is not an easy topic for her. "I didn't... Want to be a summoner." she grounds out after a moment's difficulty. "I wanted to be a doctor. To heal. And my sister.... dissapproved."
-
>"It is difficult when one's family disapproves of the path we wish for ourselves."
-
>"It is difficult when one's family disapproves of the path we wish for ourselves."
>"If you're Little Patchy's friends, then you know that magical studies and aptitude is paramount to the family. Every member of the Knowledge bloodline is expected to follow that tradition, whatever other aptitudes or dreams they might have for themselves. And I became the, how do you say, black sheep of the family."
>"But if magic's so important to your family, why did Patchouli's parents try to stunt her own studies."
>"They wanted to control her studies, not stunt them." Alisaie corrects her. "And I should say, 'she'. My sister holds the power among our generation and the younger."
-
>"Control them by forbidding that she practice magic at all until she was older? By preventing her from attending a school for magicians as she wanted? That does sound rather more like discouraging the pursuit of magic than anything."
-
>"Control them by forbidding that she practice magic at all until she was older? By preventing her from attending a school for magicians as she wanted? That does sound rather more like discouraging the pursuit of magic than anything."
>"I think... No, I'm pretty sure my sister wanted Little Patchy's magic to develop at the rate she wanted, rather than what Patchy wanted for herself. She can be very.... demanding." she settles on, though you're inclined to think that she was thinking of a few stronger words. "I can't guess what that path was, though. She may have forced me to take up magic, but I was able to develop in my own way. Of course, I was her sister, not her daughter."
>"Except.... It wasn't always that way." she says after a moment's thought. "When Little Patchy was very young, both my sister and her husband were amazed at the magical potential that Little Patchy was exhibiting. They were very enthusiastic about the potential they sensed in her."
>"Patchouli's never mentioned that." Reisen muses.
>"This was when she was only 2, 3 at the oldest. I doubt she would remember."
-
>"Do you have any idea why this might have changed?"
-
>"Do you have any idea why this might have changed?"
>"I have asked about that, and more than once. But each time do, I am instructed to, speaking politely, mind my own business."
>"But she's your family." Reisen protests. "That makes it your business."
>"Remember, I'm only her aunt." Alisaie says dejectedly.
-
>"I don't know that she will be particularly cooperative with me either. I spoke with her last night, you know. Patchouli's mother, I mean. At a meeting myself and Rose attended with the police and representatives of the Four Shrines, about the threat the Champions from Makai currently represent. The police had called her in as a expert consultant. She was... extremely dismissive that Makai could exist, and then when one of the Champions themselves attacked our gathering she... simply left, while the rest of us fought."
-
>"I don't know that she will be particularly cooperative with me either. I spoke with her last night, you know. Patchouli's mother, I mean. At a meeting myself and Rose attended with the police and representatives of the Four Shrines, about the threat the Champions from Makai currently represent. The police had called her in as a expert consultant. She was... extremely dismissive that Makai could exist, and then when one of the Champions themselves attacked our gathering she... simply left, while the rest of us fought."
>Alisaie nods slowly. "My sister is not receptive to ideas or suggestions that do not mesh with the way she views the world and the people in it. She can be... difficult."
>"And her leaving like that doesn't surprise me, either." Poppy adds. "She was never one for getting her hands dirty if she thought she didn't have to."
-
>Let out a little sigh
>"I suppose I nonetheless should try speaking with her about this, and simply hope she'll be receptive."
-
>Let out a little sigh
>"I suppose I nonetheless should try speaking with her about this, and simply hope she'll be receptive."
>"I hope so, too." Alisaie agrees. "But her daughter is involved. She HAS to care. I don't always agree with her where Little Patchy's involved, but she's still her mother."
>"If you don't mind me asking." Reisen puts in. "Why do you call her 'Little Patchy'?"
>The doctor smiles a slightly self-conscious smile. "The first time I met her was on her second birthday. The name just sort of stayed with me."
-
>Smile
>"Nieces, I think, have a way of staying little, even once they get bigger."
-
>Smile
>"Nieces, I think, have a way of staying little, even once they get bigger."
>Byakuren? Reisen's quiet voice asks hesitantly. Is it.... wrong, if I wonder if Patchy might have been... better off with her?
-
>Not at all. And frankly, I think I may share your sentiment. Alisaie seems a gentle, caring woman. Patchy's mother does... not.
-
>Not at all. And frankly, I think I may share your sentiment. Alisaie seems a gentle, caring woman. Patchy's mother does... not.
>Plus... She might actually be stronger than Madame Knowledge, as well. I don't understand how that could, but Madame Knowledge can't summon a dragon at all, and Alisaie did it without breaking a sweat.
>"Oh dear." the doctor says suddenly. "I don't even know your own names."
-
>"Oh, my apologies. Call me Lotus."
-
>"Oh, my apologies. Call me Lotus."
>"I'm Poppy." Reisen adds with a polite inclination of the head.
>"I am Dr. Alisaie Matoya Knowledge." the mage introduces herself.
-
>"Pleased to meet you."
-
>"Pleased to meet you."
>"May I ask who the winged girl is?" Alisaie asks politely.
>"We call her Lily." Reisen answers.
>The twintailed doctor smiles. Given the common theme of your names, it's easy to sense that she's figured they're not your given names. But she's also either polite or meek enough not to ask you about it. "And you planned to speak with my sister today?"
-
>"Well, given what's now happened, yes. If there's anything at all she knows, it would be good to hear it."
-
>"Well, given what's now happened, yes. If there's anything at all she knows, it would be good to hear it."
>"And you believe that she may hold information that may help you... return Little Patchy to normal?"
-
>"I don't know. It's perfectly plausible that she knows nothing at all, but every avenue is worth examining."
-
>"I don't know. It's perfectly plausible that she knows nothing at all, but every avenue is worth examining."
>"But you do think there's a chance." she asks eagerly. "That you can help her."
-
>"We will do everything we can for her; I promise you."
-
>"We will do everything we can for her; I promise you."
>Alisaie gives you a solemn look, but smiles at your words. Then she asks, "And... If you... can't?"
-
>"I don't want to accept that she's gone for good."
-
>"I don't want to accept that she's gone for good."
>Much to your surprise, your strong words actually bring a tear to the pale grey eye of the compassionate doctor. "Thank you, Lotus." she says in a heavy voice.
-
>"Patchouli matters to us, too. If there's any way at all to set things right, we will find it."
-
>"Patchouli matters to us, too. If there's any way at all to set things right, we will find it."
>Alisaie wipes daintily at her eye, but when she opens them again, there is a hint of steel there. Just a vague hint, but it is there. "If you want to work with my sister, talk to her, you'll need to work around her pride."
-
>"If she can't put her pride aside for even her own daughter's sake, then frankly I am disinclined to indulge her. What is at stake here is far more important than that."
-
>"If she can't put her pride aside for even her own daughter's sake, then frankly I am disinclined to indulge her. What is at stake here is far more important than that."
>"What I meant is that you may need to convince her of that." Alisaie clarifies. "As I said before, the Knowledge name is supremely important to her. The idea of shaming that name, tarnishing that name, is repulsive to her."
>"And not as much to you?" Poppy asks as politely as she can.
>"People mean to me than appearances and reputation. "
-
>"You're a kind woman, Alisaie. It seems a shame that you've ended up shackled to the preservation of this... family legacy. If you'll forgive me my presumption."
-
>"You're a kind woman, Alisaie. It seems a shame that you've ended up shackled to the preservation of this... family legacy. If you'll forgive me my presumption."
>Your own kindness makes the doctor fidget a little. "Well... it isn't all bad. Dragons are very intelligent people, and nice, too. ... Some of them, anyway."
>Poppy asks, "Are dragons the only thing you can summon?"
>"No, but I specialize in it. Every summoner has one particular area that comes more easily to them than others. Mine just happens to be dragons." Her smile waves a little. "And that's been a sore point among my family as well."
-
>"Because you can summon them when those with more ambition can't?"
-
>"Because you can summon them when those with more ambition can't?"
>Alisaie winces again, like one who's said something they probably ought not to have. "No... Well, not only that. It's... less difficult for me than it is for others."
-
>"I do hope they don't begrudge you too much for this."
-
>"I do hope they don't begrudge you too much for this."
>Alisaie visibly hesitates. She doesn't answer, but the look in her eyes when she lowers her head speaks volumes.
-
>Frustrated sigh
>"How incredibly petty. To demand you study what they want you to, and then begrudge you for succeeding too well at it? You deserve better. Patchy, too. The way her parents tried to stifle and dictate her life ate her up inside, you know."
-
>Frustrated sigh
>"How incredibly petty. To demand you study what they want you to, and then begrudge you for succeeding too well at it? You deserve better. Patchy, too. The way her parents tried to stifle and dictate her life ate her up inside, you know."
>As if she were ashamed of herself, Alisaie answers, "Yes. I knew."
-
>"She is a brilliant, studious woman. And kinder than she likes to let on most of the time. You know, she summoned a dragon of her own, last night. Well, it was a whelp, and it was also an accident - she said it should have been impossible, but was already searching books for answers."
>Small sigh
>"Since what happened to her this morning, I've wondered if that was some facet of her link to the Champion of Water manifesting itself, before either of us knew it existed."
-
>"She is a brilliant, studious woman. And kinder than she likes to let on most of the time. You know, she summoned a dragon of her own, last night. Well, it was a whelp, and it was also an accident - she said it should have been impossible, but was already searching books for answers."
>Small sigh
>"Since what happened to her this morning, I've wondered if that was some facet of her link to the Champion of Water manifesting itself, before either of us knew it existed."
>"She... Well, she's never done anything like that before, at least as far as I know. Not that I was up to date on her studies at the best of times." she adds in a quieter voice.
-
>"But it doesn't surprise you that she was practicing magic against explicit orders, then?"
-
>"But it doesn't surprise you that she was practicing magic against explicit orders, then?"
>Alisaie doesn't answer for several seconds, and when she does, she doesn't meet your eyes. "I.. had hoped that she'd be stronger than me."
-
>"...to defy her family attempts to dictate her life's path?"
-
>"...to defy her family attempts to dictate her life's path?"
>The meek woman nods.
-
>"Well, regardless of what your family wanted from you, you're still a doctor now, aren't you?"
-
>"Well, regardless of what your family wanted from you, you're still a doctor now, aren't you?"
>"I consider myself a doctor before anything else."
-
>"Then it doesn't sound like they were entirely able to keep you from your own path either, were they?"
-
>"Then it doesn't sound like they were entirely able to keep you from your own path either, were they?"
>"Well you see, she wasn't there. My sister and her husband moved to Mayoiga about.... 19 years ago now. We're from Francais, originally. I stayed there."
-
>"So you got out by virtue of them leaving first, is what you're saying?"
-
>"I suppose you could say that. It's my sister that holds the power over our generation. With her following her own path out here, I was able to regain my position at the hospital I worked. I don't know why she suddenly moved halfway across the globe, but she did. And I was relieved."
-
>"Regained? So had you already been a doctor, and were pressured to resign?"
>"I apologize if I'm prying."
-
>"Regained? So had you already been a doctor, and were pressured to resign?"
>"I apologize if I'm prying."
>"Essentially, you are correct. I still practiced medicine now and then, but my first responsibility was to the family and my magical studies."
>"Or so Madame Knowledge said." Poppy speculates. Alisaie answers with a nod.
-
>"And did she ever show half as much of that responsibility to you as she expected in return?"
-
>"And did she ever show half as much of that responsibility to you as she expected in return?"
>"I beg your pardon?"
-
>"She said you owed it to your family to devote yourself to the study of magic, yes? What consideration did your family give you in return? Family responsibilities are a two-way street."
-
>"She said you owed it to your family to devote yourself to the study of magic, yes? What consideration did your family give you in return? Family responsibilities are a two-way street."
>Alisaie's face is that of a woman who doesn't seem to know how to answer.
-
>Give her another moment or two, and if she still does not reply: "I'm sorry; I've made you feel uncomfortable."
-
>Give her another moment or two, and if she still does not reply: "I'm sorry; I've made you feel uncomfortable."
>"It's just... I've never thought in those terms before." she replies quietly. "The reality is, I was always sort of the black sheep of our generation. Our magical traditions just weren't as important to me as they were my siblings. My sister felt that it was time for me to attend those responsiblities."
-
>"'Responsibilities'. Who is it that you owed, and why? How were any of their lives worse-off because you choose to live your own? There are few careers that do more good for the world than doctors. I've... often thought about studying medicine myself, you know."
-
>"'Responsibilities'. Who is it that you owed, and why? How were any of their lives worse-off because you choose to live your own? There are few careers that do more good for the world than doctors. I've... often thought about studying medicine myself, you know."
>That brightens Alisaie's disposition noticably. "Well, I think I can say with little hesitation that you have the one thing that I think is the most important thing for any doctor to have. Care for the sake of others. That's where it starts, Lotus."
-
>"It's what drew me to the profession in the first place - being able to help people."
>Wry smile
>"Though lately I find myself with a rather more dramatic circumstances to do this."
-
>"It's what drew me to the profession in the first place - being able to help people."
>Wry smile
>"Though lately I find myself with a rather more dramatic circumstances to do this."
>"Your circumstance is special, too, in a way. With proper training, not only would you have the power to protect people, but the knowledge and the skill to heal the wounded. In addition to the desire."
>"Sounds like you're offering." Reisen comments lightly.
>A comment which makes the doctor blush slightly and fidget. "Oh, I've never been that confidant in my teaching."
-
>Let out a little sigh
>"Well, I suppose I should go speak with your sister before much longer."
>"...though perhaps it wouldn't hurt to rest a little more, first. It's been a long day already and the day's barely started."
>To Reisen: How are you holding up, anyway? You seemed pained during the battle, and I don't mean from any injuries.
-
>Let out a little sigh
>"Well, I suppose I should go speak with your sister before much longer."
>"...though perhaps it wouldn't hurt to rest a little more, first. It's been a long day already and the day's barely started."
>To Reisen: How are you holding up, anyway? You seemed pained during the battle, and I don't mean from any injuries.
>"Take as long as you like." Alisaie replies graciously. "Everyone in this house owes you that much courtesy and more. I can look into getting better rooms for you girls, if you'd like."
>I'm fine now. Tired, but, other than that, fine.
-
>"I'm perfectly content with this, myself."
>That's good. I know this power felt very draining the first time I used it, and that battle was only a footnote compared to this one. I fear you've had quite the initiation by fire. But... thank you. I don't think we could have done it without you.
-
>"I'm perfectly content with this, myself."
>That's good. I know this power felt very draining the first time I used it, and that battle was only a footnote compared to this one. I fear you've had quite the initiation by fire. But... thank you. I don't think we could have done it without you.
>"Me, too." Poppy agrees. "Just being able to rest for a bit's good enough for me."
>I think you could have. Reisen answers quietly. You're strong, Byakuren, really strong. And I don't just mean this power you have. I think you would have found a way to win.
-
>Well, I appreciate the vote of confidence, but nonetheless I am very glad to have had you with us.
>Barring anything else, let's just rest up a bit, and see if Rin and Lily come around
-
>Well, I appreciate the vote of confidence, but nonetheless I am very glad to have had you with us.
>Barring anything else, let's just rest up a bit, and see if Rin and Lily come around
>The rabbit smiles a contented smiles and gratefully inclines her head to you.
>"Well, then. I should probably leave you to rest, then." Alisaie says as she stands. "Both of your friends appear to be fine. I expect they will fully recover after some rest themselves. And, if you need anything else, then call for me, all right?" And then she takes her leave of you, leaving your group, for the moment, alone.
>After a minute or so, Reisen stands up from the bed you were sharing, leaving you the freedom to have a proper lay down. It isn't the comfiest bed in the world, the mattress being obviously cheap and fairly stiff, but for the moment, you can live with that. Poppy, meanwhile, is getting a better look at herself in one of the big mirrors at the bottom of the room. "I guess it's not too bad." you hear her say aloud after a moment's contemplation, followed by a short laugh. "I think I've worn less at Koa's sometimes."
>As she switches to her Glider form in order to examine that, her telepathic voice comes to you, About what you said before, Byakuren. When you said I looked pained. Did it look like I was having a headache at the time?
-
>Yes, as a matter of fact.
-
>Yes, as a matter of fact.
>You were right, it wasn't because of an injury. At least not one that Patchy caused. It's a bit complicated, but it was the result of going against my owners. In this case, fighting against Patchouli.
-
>What do you mean?
-
>What do you mean?
>I may be a slave, but I'm not the same as a Terran slave. Reisen explains as she flutters her Glider forms wings. These buttons on my ears aren't a decoration. They're a... restraining bolt, in your tongue. A magitek kind of a geas. They're their to ensure I adhere to the terms of my slavery, and that includes inflicting pain whenever I go against my current owners wishes. And despite the circumstances, Patchouli is still my owner's daughter. Fighting against her, without their express permission, activated them.
-
>Oh no, that sounds awful. Is this something the Knowledges themselves did to you?
-
>Oh no, that sounds awful. Is this something the Knowledges themselves did to you?
>No. They were installed after the war. By Ambassador Seiran, as a matter of fact. They were a condition of the agreement that allowed me to stay on Earth.
-
>That seems deeply unfair. We're at peace; isn't the point of that not to treat each other as hostiles? What threat could you possible pose to warrant that kind of treatment?
-
>That seems deeply unfair. We're at peace; isn't the point of that not to treat each other as hostiles? What threat could you possible pose to warrant that kind of treatment?
>Reisen was in the middle of changing forms again, likely to her Saber form, but your question makes her pause mid-sentance. She doesn't turn around, but you can see her pained expression in the mirror she stands in front of. She places her arm on the mirror and lays her head against it heavily. Not a threat. she says at last. A price.
-
>A price?
-
>A price?
>"People don't leave the moon easily." she says aloud. "Least of all people like me." She turns her head to look at you. "There's a lot about myself I haven't talked about with you. I was a lot of things... And my life here demanded a price to pay."
-
>"Why should it? What could you have possibly done to deserve this kind of treatment?"
-
>"Why should it? What could you have possibly done to deserve this kind of treatment?"
>Again, Reisen visibly hesitates. From the look on her face, you suspect that she doesn't think you'll like the answer. Or that the answer will change how you think about her. Or maybe both, you can't be sure from that look. You are sure, though, that it's not something she enjoys talking about.
-
>"If it's something you don't want to talk about, I will respect that. But I promise that I won't condemn you for it, either. You're a good woman and a good friend. I am sure whatever it is you say can't change my mind."
-
>"If it's something you don't want to talk about, I will respect that. But I promise that I won't condemn you for it, either. You're a good woman and a good friend. I am sure whatever it is you say can't change my mind."
>Reisen sighs. "I've almost never told anyone who wasn't my owner about why I came to Earth. But, you are my friend. And we are fighting a war together. A fight that, this time, I won't run away from. You trusted enough in me to find me worthy of this power, and that I could and would support you. I can't very well turn around and keep secrets from you, can I? You need to know who it is you've recruited. And I think White Rose will understand. She and I are of a kind. But I don't really know Lily very well. Do you think she'd want to hear the story of a solider who deserted her duty, her people and her planet?""
-
>"Lily is a very compassionate soul. I don't think she will think ill of you."
-
>"Lily is a very compassionate soul. I don't think she will think ill of you."
>"That's not exactly what I meant. It's... an ugly story."
-
>"Are you... asking if I think that's more graphic than she'd like to hear?"
-
>"Are you... asking if I think that's more graphic than she'd like to hear?"
>Poppy considers that for a moment, then nods. "That's a way to put it. Not everyone wants to hear about Lunar atrocities."
-
>"You... may be right. She did choose not to view a memory of Makai because she feared it would be unsettling. She was... right. But nonetheless, no matter how terrible it is, I will listen."
-
>"You... may be right. She did choose not to view a memory of Makai because she feared it would be unsettling. She was... right. But nonetheless, no matter how terrible it is, I will listen."
>Reisen nods, then changes her guise once more into her Caster form as she walks away from the mirror and back towards you, not in any hurry to get there. She sits at last again on the bed you're presently sitting on, but her head lowered, her eyes focused on the floor. "I'm a traitor, Byakuren. A deserter. I abandoned my post in Lunarian army. And high treason is one of the worst crimes a Lunarian can commit. This life I now live is my punishment for that crime."
-
>"Your enslavement was something handed out by your own government?"
-
>"Your enslavement was something handed out by your own government?"
>"Actually, it was the Terran negociator who suggested it. It was a compromise reached between the two planets. If I had gone back to the Moon after the war, they'd have put me to death."
-
>"They... what? Truly?"
>In the last Lunarian War, the moon was the definite aggressor, right? And most of the fighting also took place on Earth? What was the prompting incident? And did any actual counter-invasion take place, with real fighting on Lunarian soil?
-
>In the last Lunarian War, the moon was the definite aggressor, right? And most of the fighting also took place on Earth? What was the prompting incident? And did any actual counter-invasion take place, with real fighting on Lunarian soil?
>The Moon was the one that declared war, yes, and they were the ones that fired the first shots, but they claim that they were provoked into it, and they may not be entirely wrong. About a hundred years ago, a Lunar embassy was opened in Moscovia to try and smooth out relationships between the two planets. This didn't work entirely as well as intended, but as time wore on, there did seem to be a lessening of the tension between Earth and Moon. Not a great lessening, but progress is still progress.
>45 years ago, though, one of the two Lunarian rulers, Princess Toyohime, came down to Earth on an official visit, the first time a Lunarian noble had come to Earth with peaceful intentions. It was an attempt to show the Lunarians that Terrans had no interest in inflicting either their own culture, or war, upon the Moon, that they were safe from your people. But this did not succeed as, during her journey though the small Ovejaras Empire in Europe, there was a series of explosions, and the Princesses convoy was destroyed. Less than 24 hours later, the surviving Princess, Yorihime, declared war upon the Earth.
>A number of attempts were made by Terrans to land troops on the Moon, but almost none of them succeeded. The Lunarians were almost fanatical in their ideals of 'purity', and would resort to almost anything to keep Terrans off of their 'pure' realm. They were not entirely successful, though, as a handful of smaller units of troops, both regular and magical, did in fact penetrate the Moon's defenses. In fact it was one such group that disabled the Lunarian defense grid long enough for the Megatron missile to destroy the Lunarian city of Lix.
>"They... what? Truly?"
>"Is it really that big a surprise?" Reisen asks, looking back up at you. "Most Terran militaries have the same punishment for high treason."
-
>So Toyohime died in this bombing?
>But even so, isn't it just a little much to declare war on an entire non-united planet for events taking place in just one country? I am sure there were other countries that didn't even like Ovejaras very much
>"Desertion isn't high treason, and I'm sure they wouldn't go so far as to execute someone for it - certainly not these days. Unless you... did try to attack your own government?"
-
>So Toyohime died in this bombing?
>But even so, isn't it just a little much to declare war on an entire non-united planet for events taking place in just one country? I am sure there were other countries that didn't even like Ovejaras very much
>The seat of the bomb vaporized all material, organic or otherwise, within a kilometer radius. Her body was never recovered, despite efforts by both sides to recover it, but due to this fact, both sides accepted her death.
>There probably were. In fact, some Terrans believe that it was the Lunarians themselves that orchestrated the bombing, to provoke Yorihime into declaring war. Or that Yorihime did it herself to secure her own rule and provoke the war she wanted at the same time. Obviously the Lunarians fiercely deny these accusations, but they have persisted for decades.
>"Desertion isn't high treason, and I'm sure they wouldn't go so far as to execute someone for it - certainly not these days. Unless you... did try to attack your own government?"
>Reisen makes a sound that could have been a short laugh. "Some days I think I should have." she mutters as she looks down again. "That it would have been better to do that than to run away. But I didn't. I just ran. I ran away from the army, I ran away from the enforcers that came after me, then I ran away to earth after the war started."
-
>All matter within a kilometer?? Surely that would have killed far far more Terrans than Lunarians?
>"The war was a terrible, terrible thing. I can't blame anyone for not wanting to be in the middle of it."
-
>All matter within a kilometer?? Surely that would have killed far far more Terrans than Lunarians?
>"The war was a terrible, terrible thing. I can't blame anyone for not wanting to be in the middle of it."
>The death toll was fairly grievous, yes, though the exact number escapes you at the moment.
>"You don't understand, Byakuren. It wasn't the war that I ran away from. Well, it's true that I ran during the war, from both sides, but that wasn't why I deserted the army."
-
>"Then what was it?"
-
>"Then what was it?"
>"Do you remember what I said to Patchy, after she'd knocked me out of the sky?"
-
>"Something about... a man you wished you'd had the power to stop?"
-
>"Something about... a man you wished you'd had the power to stop?"
>She nods. "The general I was assigned to in the army. And, uh... Do you remember, what I said he did?"
-
>"Genocide?"
-
>"Genocide?"
>"Yes. That's what I ran away from. My unit was ordered to take part in the purification of a radical religious cult that had defiled the purity of the Homeland." she replies, her voice laden with a sad, sardonic tone. "Or at least that's how he put it. What he didn't mention was that that 'cult' was barely armed. Not that it would have mattered, really, but.... I couldn't face it, Byakuren. I couldn't.... So I ran. I dropped my gun, I knocked out the few troops that were around me, and I ran."
-
>"You didn't want to kill people. There's no shame in that."
-
>"You didn't want to kill people. There's no shame in that."
>"Maybe. But I didn't try to save them, either. I had the power, I could have used it. But I didn't. I just ran. I ran all the way to Earth."
-
>"Did you really have that power, though? If you had openly opposed your commanding officer, what would have happened?"
-
>"Did you really have that power, though? If you had openly opposed your commanding officer, what would have happened?"
>"Not a day goes by that I don't ask myself that very question." Reisen confesses. "I've had a lot of years to think about it. I could have taken him down, and at least a few hundred of his troops, before somebody shot and killed me." She gives you a wry smile. "This power you've given me. It's not the first time I've had power beyond the norm."
-
>"A few hundred? What do you mean?"
-
>"A few hundred? What do you mean?"
>"I'll explain, but I need you to keep it between us. I don't really want too many people knowing what I can do."
-
>"You have my promise."
-
>"You have my promise."
>"Very, very rarely, certain Lunarians are born with innate powers and abilities beyond the norm. Enhansed strength, endless energy, there have been many examples over the years. The Lunarian word for it doesn't really translate well, but they're informally called 'Point One Percenters', on account of the fact that the condition presents only in about .1% of the population at any given time. And I'm one of them. My power is- Well I guess I should say 'was', since most of it's been sealed. But it had to do with waves. I could perceive all kinds of waves that normal people couldn't. And after I was drafted into the military, I learned how to control and project them, as well."
-
>"To do... what, exactly?"
-
>"To do... what, exactly?"
>"A wide range of things. By using sound waves, I could project the sound of someone's voice, bird songs, even music. Or change the sound of someone's voice as they were talking. By using light waves, I could change the color of light in the air. I could make a run of the mill candle give off purple light, or have sunbeams show as red. I could also weaponize both, and lots more waves beyond. Generate beams of light, or walls of sound. Benignly, I could be a walking rave. Maliciously...." She holds up to fingers under her red eyes. "These eyes contain a frightening power, Byakuren. We never found out what the upper limit of their power is. At the last point I reached in my training, I learned how to pick up people's brain waves. I probably would have learned how to control and create them, too, but I was deployed and deserted before we got that far. I never got beyond hypnosis."
>"Which is one of the reasons I was so hesitant when you asked me to join you." she admits. "I've had power once. I didn't want it again."
-
>"Because of the responsibility that comes with it?"
-
>"Because of the responsibility that comes with it?"
>"That's part of it, yeah. But it was this power of mine that forced me into the military. On the Moon, all Point One Percenters are drafted as soon as they are discovered. If I had just been normal, then I wouldn't... Well, I wouldn't be here now."
-
>"Well, I may have 'drafted' you myself, but the moment you want out, you're free to put all this aside. I'd never force you to do anything you didn't want to."
-
>"Well, I may have 'drafted' you myself, but the moment you want out, you're free to put all this aside. I'd never force you to do anything you didn't want to."
>Reisen smiles. "No you didn't. You gave me a choice, Byakuren. I never had that on the moon. That makes more difference than I can say."
>"Besides, this time, my first deployment was to stop a massacre. I never wanted power, but it's a good feeling to be doing something good with it."
-
>"I'm still hopeful we can stop all of them in this conflict we've found ourselves in now. As tall an order as that may still be."
>"But you said this power of yours is mostly sealed? Is that by the same restraining bolt you mentioned earlier? And... what of it isn't sealed?"
-
>"I'm still hopeful we can stop all of them in this conflict we've found ourselves in now. As tall an order as that may still be."
>"But you said this power of yours is mostly sealed? Is that by the same restraining bolt you mentioned earlier? And... what of it isn't sealed?"
>"Considering there hasn't been any reports of them in the news, I'm guessing you've been doing okay so far."
>"My eyesight is still better than a normal rabbits, on account of my sensitivity to light waves, and I can see clearly in lower levels of light. I still need some light to see by, just not as much as other races, even Kappa. And I still have hypnotic powers. Not as strong or as broad as they were, but still, some."
>"And yes, it is one of the effects of the bolts. In fact, it was a condition the Lunarians insisted on. If I was to be allowed to stay on Earth, I wouldn't be allowed to keep my powers. As far as I know, they can't be removed safely by any means, magical or technological." She pauses for a moment. "Although, I don't know what effect your powers might have on them. The Lunarians didn't have you in mind when they blunted my power."
-
>"No means, even their own?"
>"And what... kind of hypnosis?"
-
>"No means, even their own?"
>"And what... kind of hypnosis?"
>"Not as far as I know. You see it doesn't matter if they could take them off or not, since returning to the Moon at all would be a death sentance for me."
>"It's mostly limited to suggestions and persuasion. I can't put people into deep trances- Well I suppose I CAN, but it takes far too long to do it on the fly, as it were. Especially since I need to be looking into someone's eyes to do it at all." Looking slightly uncomfortable, she says, "It's actually that ability that led to the Knowledge's buying me."
-
>"Oh?"
-
>"Oh?"
>"They, um.... They..." She stops and sighs. "I'm sorry, I'm just not proud of this. They... Well there's no nice way to put it, they wanted to use me as a way to keep Patchouli under control."
-
>"By... hypnotizing her? To be more... compliant?"
-
>"By... hypnotizing her? To be more... compliant?"
>Looking pained, Reisen nods once.
-
>"Did it... work? I mean, we both know she disregarded more than a few things her parents wished, but that doesn't mean it mightn't have been more flagrant."
-
>"Did it... work? I mean, we both know she disregarded more than a few things her parents wished, but that doesn't mean it mightn't have been more flagrant."
>"She isn't immune to my power. But... I couldn't. I tried to keep her from experimenting with things that looked dangerous, but most of what I did was to get her to take care of herself. You know how she is, when she gets wrapped up in her work, she forgets to eat, forgets to sleep, and does a pretty good job at ignoring people that suggest either."
-
>"So you never hypnotized her the way her parents asked you to? I... assume they don't realize this."
-
>"So you never hypnotized her the way her parents asked you to? I... assume they don't realize this."
>"Technically, I did. I wanted to keep her safe, which is why I tried to keep her away from dangerous magics. But as for keeping her away from magics at all, that was impossible. My hypnosis isn't strong enough to change something so important to someone. I couldn't keep her away from studying magic any more than I could hypnotize you into being cruel to someone."
-
>"But they expected you could, I gather."
-
>"But they expected you could, I gather."
>"Yes. But they underestimated their daughter's passion. Or they overestimated my power, I'm not really sure which. If I had my old power, then I could probably have done what they wanted. Of course if I had my old power, then I wouldn't have."
-
>"Looking back, I think... Patchouli knew something of this about you. Did you tell her yourself?"
-
>"Looking back, I think... Patchouli knew something of this about you. Did you tell her yourself?"
>Reisen blinks. "No. No, I didn't, what did she say?"
-
>"Not long after she became the Avatar of Water, she spoke of your eyes as 'magic'. I... don't think she was being poetic, either."
-
>"Not long after she became the Avatar of Water, she spoke of your eyes as 'magic'. I... don't think she was being poetic, either."
>"She... knew?" the rabbit says quietly.
-
>"She may have. It fits in context. She spoke of how her parents had used you as a tool to deny her her magic. Which I already knew, of course, but not that it was quite so... literal."
-
>"She may have. It fits in context. She spoke of how her parents had used you as a tool to deny her her magic. Which I already knew, of course, but not that it was quite so... literal."
>"I never told her. I didn't want her to hate me for it."
-
>"For what it's worth, she said she didn't blame you for it. That you hadn't had a choice in the matter."
-
>"For what it's worth, she said she didn't blame you for it. That you hadn't had a choice in the matter."
>"She never said a word about it. All the time we were together, she never said a thing."
-
>"Maybe she didn't want you to feel worse about it, given how little autonomy you had in the matter? And given the shame you do feel about it already."
>"What a dreadful thing for a parent to do; to try and literally brainwash their own daughter into obedience. As if I were not already sufficiently poorly-disposed towards them."
-
>"Maybe she didn't want you to feel worse about it, given how little autonomy you had in the matter? And given the shame you do feel about it already."
>"What a dreadful thing for a parent to do; to try and literally brainwash their own daughter into obedience. As if I were not already sufficiently poorly-disposed towards them."
>"But I didn't... Did she know all along?" Reisen ponders, lost in her own thoughts. You're not even sure she hears your irritated thoughts on the senior Knowledges, at least not until she looks back up at you. "Are you... going to do something about it?" she asks carefully, quietly.
-
>"About what specifically here?"
-
>"About what specifically here?"
>"I don't know." Reisen says lamely. "About them, I guess."
-
>"Well, I'll see what they have to say about what happened here today, and what they might know. But I don't intend to mince words if they choose to be difficult."
>"When you said earlier that you couldn't be freed, is that because of some obligatory clause under which the Lunarian government allowed you to remain here?"
-
>"Well, I'll see what they have to say about what happened here today, and what they might know. But I don't intend to mince words if they choose to be difficult."
>"When you said earlier that you couldn't be freed, is that because of some obligatory clause under which the Lunarian government allowed you to remain here?"
>"Essentially, yes. I could be executed on the moon, or a depowered slave here on earth. Those were the only two choices I was given. A life enslaved or a public death."
-
>"But aren't you under our governmental jurisdiction now? Why wouldn't your owner be free to release you if they wished? Since obviously - no offense intended - you were able to be sold between masters."
-
>"But aren't you under our governmental jurisdiction now? Why wouldn't your owner be free to release you if they wished? Since obviously - no offense intended - you were able to be sold between masters."
>"I.... I'm not really sure how that works. I never lived in Yamato before the Knowledges came here. I don't know how different the laws might be here."
>But you do know. In researching the laws of slavery when you took possession of Rin, you learned that while the government of Yamato does not formally endorse slavery, it does acknowledge the Oni's code when it comes to slaves. As a result, any slave who lives in Yamato is subject to the same laws as Rin is. Reisen's case may be an exception to the norm in a lot of ways, but as far as you know, so long as she lives in Yamato, and is owned by a resident of Yamato, she is held to the same code as Rin is.
>And as you think of Rin, and how helping her led you to this information, the kasha herself starts to stir in her bed.
-
>And what impact would that have on her ability to be freed, assuming that she's not some bizarre exception to this code?
>Give Rin a moment to roust herself before we pounce on her
-
>And what impact would that have on her ability to be freed, assuming that she's not some bizarre exception to this code?
>Any slave who serves the same owner for a period ten years automatically gains the option of being forever freed and can never again be made a slave by any other, or can be formally adopted by their owner and their family. If you understand the code correctly, Reisen would need to serve the same owner either in Yamato, or another country that has the same guidelines, to gain this choice.
>Unless there is a clause in her papers that explicitly forbids this, but if there was, you'd imagine Reisen would know about it, and thus would have mentioned.
>Give Rin a moment to roust herself before we pounce on her
>The kasha is slow to rise, and does so with a bit more groaning than you might have liked, but eventually her eyes flutter open, and she winces almost as soon as they do. "Agh, faith preserve us, my head." she mutters in Eire before you sweep her into your arms. "Mistress? Are ye alright?"
-
>"I'm fine. Tired, but fine. Are you okay?"
-
>"I'm fine. Tired, but fine. Are you okay?"
>"Bit of a headache." Rin admits. "And my shoulder aches where that beam hit me."
-
>"But nothing worse?"
-
>"But nothing worse?"
>"Don't think so."
-
>"I'm glad."
>Give our brave girlfriend a kiss
>"And we did it. We saved them. Patchouli may still... not be herself - Louise came and took her away while she was unconscious. But the people here are safe. The rest... we can figure out afterward."
-
>"I'm glad."
>Give our brave girlfriend a kiss
>"And we did it. We saved them. Patchouli may still... not be herself - Louise came and took her away while she was unconscious. But the people here are safe. The rest... we can figure out afterward."
>Despite the fatigue she has to be feeling, Rin perks right up at your gesture of affection. You hear Reisen let out a little giggle at the sight, as well, a happy sound.
>"So, Water got out, huh. Bah, doesn't matter, you bottled her up once, we can do it again." Rin makes a quick scan of the room. "Where are we?"
-
>"Inside the mansion. Patchouli's aunt invited us in and checked on some of our injuries. We spoke for a while, and then she left us to rest. I'm planning to speak with Patchouli's parents about what happened after resting up a little."
-
>"Inside the mansion. Patchouli's aunt invited us in and checked on some of our injuries. We spoke for a while, and then she left us to rest. I'm planning to speak with Patchouli's parents about what happened after resting up a little."
>"Patchy's got an aunt?"
>"She does." Reisen supplies. "And she's a doctor. She said she didn't find anything obviously wrong with you or Lily."
>"Lily, where's she?"
-
>Point to the bed where she's lying
>"She's been unconscious since the battle ended, also."
-
>Point to the bed where she's lying
>"She's been unconscious since the battle ended, also."
>Rin sits up, albeit carefully. "Yeah, no surprise there. That last blast was a whopper. What'd ya do?"
-
>"It was a shockwave from the sword Patchouli made shattering under my Violet Lotus. Louise said it even hurt her."
-
>"It was a shockwave from the sword Patchouli made shattering under my Violet Lotus. Louise said it even hurt her."
>"Excuse me." Reisen says politely. "I'm guessing that Louise was the name of that woman who appeared after the fight was over, but just who was she?"
-
>"Ah yes, I'm sorry. There's so much you don't know yet. It's been... an awfully busy few days."
>"Louise is the Champion of Water, a 'demon' from Makai, and the person with whom Patchouli is linked. Lily, myself, and Kiku - a shrine maiden of the Metal Tiger, and another of our group - defeated her when she invaded the Center for the Recently Ascended a few days ago, and sealed her away in a sort of pocket dimension. Well, at the time she looked like a large serpent, actually; it was rather surprising to find a woman when we went back into her prison to speak with her later. Her kind were banished to Makai ages ago, under circumstances that I do not believe even she knows. Her and the other Champions have been charged with dismantling the barrier between worlds so that they may leave again."
>"She is a... I do not believe she is an evil woman, even if some of her actions have brought harm to others. But her situation is complex, and Makai so hellish that any lengths needed to escape it might seem justified. They have not had a good life, to put it mildly."
-
>"Ah yes, I'm sorry. There's so much you don't know yet. It's been... an awfully busy few days."
>"Louise is the Champion of Water, a 'demon' from Makai, and the person with whom Patchouli is linked. Lily, myself, and Kiku - a shrine maiden of the Metal Tiger, and another of our group - defeated her when she invaded the Center for the Recently Ascended a few days ago, and sealed her away in a sort of pocket dimension. Well, at the time she looked like a large serpent, actually; it was rather surprising to find a woman when we went back into her prison to speak with her later. Her kind were banished to Makai ages ago, under circumstances that I do not believe even she knows. Her and the other Champions have been charged with dismantling the barrier between worlds so that they may leave again."
>"She is a... I do not believe she is an evil woman, even if some of her actions have brought harm to others. But her situation is complex, and Makai so hellish that any lengths needed to escape it might seem justified. They have not had a good life, to put it mildly."
>"How could you know what their world is like?"
-
>"I do actually believe Louise, after having spent some time talking with her on several occasions. But I have have also seen some of it myself. There was a memory the Champion of Ice shared with us of... well, of a companion of hers being devoured by a misshapen molten hulk while the two of them took refuge in a crevasse of razor-sharp rock to hide from the killing wind that lurked outside. Perhaps that sounds a little over the top, but it was very vivid. Louise spoke of the land itself devouring those who rest upon it. They believe the planet itself is sentient, and actively trying to kill them; I am not sure I disbelieve this."
>"I encountered a predator of Makai in person, in the basement of the CRA - a lurker that was pulled along when Louise entered our world, quite beyond her knowledge. She called it a Devouring Tar. It looked like... well, like a puddle of rank sludge, but it had a sort of psychic presence that I can only describe as an endless. all-consuming hunger. One could drown in it. I felt its touch upon my mind. It... is still a little disturbing to recall, but for a few long moments I felt an incredible urge to... well, there is no easy way of saying this: to rip apart and devour Kiku. To eat her. It didn't matter that she was a companion. I could barely hear the words she was speaking. I was just so hungry, and she was right there! - such is the depth of hunger the Tar inflicts on those around it. Louise told me I should have died just from that contact with it, lost my mind to it. If Kiku hadn't been there to save me, I probably would have. And this is not even the worst of the things that prey upon her kind."
-
>"I do actually believe Louise, after having spent some time talking with her on several occasions. But I have have also seen some of it myself. There was a memory the Champion of Ice shared with us of... well, of a companion of hers being devoured by a misshapen molten hulk while the two of them took refuge in a crevasse of razor-sharp rock to hide from the killing wind that lurked outside. Perhaps that sounds a little over the top, but it was very vivid. Louise spoke of the land itself devouring those who rest upon it. They believe the planet itself is sentient, and actively trying to kill them; I am not sure I disbelieve this."
>"I encountered a predator of Makai in person, in the basement of the CRA - a lurker that was pulled along when Louise entered our world, quite beyond her knowledge. She called it a Devouring Tar. It looked like... well, like a puddle of rank sludge, but it had a sort of psychic presence that I can only describe as an endless. all-consuming hunger. One could drown in it. I felt its touch upon my mind. It... is still a little disturbing to recall, but for a few long moments I felt an incredible urge to... well, there is no easy way of saying this: to rip apart and devour Kiku. To eat her. It didn't matter that she was a companion. I could barely hear the words she was speaking. I was just so hungry, and she was right there! - such is the depth of hunger the Tar inflicts on those around it. Louise told me I should have died just from that contact with it, lost my mind to it. If Kiku hadn't been there to save me, I probably would have. And this is not even the worst of the things that prey upon her kind."
>As you describe Makai to your latest recruit, Rin pulls herself out of her bed, albeit none too quickly, She gives her wounded leg a couple of experimental kicks before she tries standing on it, but when she does, it seems to function properly. At least, it doesn't seem to be in any worse shape than the body it's attached to. When you start talking about that Tar, though, she comes around the bed, sits down next to you and takes your hand in hers. You choose not to object.
>Reisen visibly blanches. "You ARE fine now, aren't you?" she asks, obviously concerned.
-
>"Yes. It was short-lived, thankfully, once the Tar itself was dealt with; I may have scarfed down a bagel and had an extra-large lunch, but that was the worst of the lingering effects. Though it is not an experience I care to repeat."
>"On Makai, the Tar apparently has effective camouflage, and quite aside from its psychic effects can devour nearly anything. Louise called it an 'ambush predator'. She... seemed genuinely frightened when I mentioned what we'd encountered, and more frightened still about other creatures there she did not want to elaborate on."
>"As I understand it, her kind has little approaching anything we'd call 'civilization'; gatherings just attract more predation. Only the very strongest can survive at all. I can scarcely imagine what it must be like to live in such a place. Louise even admitted an irony that her imprisonment was the first time she'd actually known any sense of safety. That if she rested or allowed her focus to wander, for the first time she knew nothing would try to kill her."
-
>"Yes. It was short-lived, thankfully, once the Tar itself was dealt with; I may have scarfed down a bagel and had an extra-large lunch, but that was the worst of the lingering effects. Though it is not an experience I care to repeat."
>"On Makai, the Tar apparently has effective camouflage, and quite aside from its psychic effects can devour nearly anything. Louise called it an 'ambush predator'. She... seemed genuinely frightened when I mentioned what we'd encountered, and more frightened still about other creatures there she did not want to elaborate on."
>"As I understand it, her kind has little approaching anything we'd call 'civilization'; gatherings just attract more predation. Only the very strongest can survive at all. I can scarcely imagine what it must be like to live in such a place. Louise even admitted an irony that her imprisonment was the first time she'd actually known any sense of safety. That if she rested or allowed her focus to wander, for the first time she knew nothing would try to kill her."
>Reisen nods slowly. "I can understand what she meant. My life was pretty close to that for a long time, after I deserted. I never knew if this was going to be the day the Enforcers caught up to me, and then when I came to Earth, I had to dodge the Lunarian troops and the Terran people. But you, you beat this Tar. Right?"
-
>"Kiku transmuted it into lead after some of my own power destabilized it. I felt nothing of its presence afterward, so I do think it is effectively 'dead'. Though I had been planning to swing by the CRA to have another check again soon; when we'd encountered it originally, I'd had no idea just what it was, or how dangerous it was."
-
>"Kiku transmuted it into lead after some of my own power destabilized it. I felt nothing of its presence afterward, so I do think it is effectively 'dead'. Though I had been planning to swing by the CRA to have another check again soon; when we'd encountered it originally, I'd had no idea just what it was, or how dangerous it was."
>"Well you're not doing it alone." Rin says quickly.
>To which Reisen adds, "I agree. Better not to take any chances."
-
>"You'll get no argument from me."
>"But I hope you can get some impression of what daily like on Makai must be like, and why someone would be willing to go to extreme lengths to escape it. Moreover, they've never had the chance for such a luxury as 'peaceful coexistence'. If some of them seem harsh and callous, I think it is only because they have never had the opportunity to learn otherwise. This does not mean their methods should go unopposed, but it is why I want to find a way that can lead to a better place for both our kinds, rather than just locking them back up where they came from. I do not think I could rightly consign anyone to such a place."
-
>"You'll get no argument from me."
>"But I hope you can get some impression of what daily like on Makai must be like, and why someone would be willing to go to extreme lengths to escape it. Moreover, they've never had the chance for such a luxury as 'peaceful coexistence'. If some of them seem harsh and callous, I think it is only because they have never had the opportunity to learn otherwise. This does not mean their methods should go unopposed, but it is why I want to find a way that can lead to a better place for both our kinds, rather than just locking them back up where they came from. I do not think I could rightly consign anyone to such a place."
>"No, I doubt you could." Reisen agrees. "But, you said that her people had been banished there. So who did that to them in the first place?"
-
>"I don't know the exact circumstances of this, and I think it's vague ancient history even to Louise. Though she did speak of Celestials as intrinsic enemies of her kind here, and they may have been involved in driving them out? I'm not certain on this. Though I recall she seemed to think they were our masters, even now. And you heard what she said before she left today."
-
>"I don't know the exact circumstances of this, and I think it's vague ancient history even to Louise. Though she did speak of Celestials as intrinsic enemies of her kind here, and they may have been involved in driving them out? I'm not certain on this. Though I recall she seemed to think they were our masters, even now. And you heard what she said before she left today."
>"Not all of it made sense to me at the time, though. I didn't even know where she'd came from; I just knew that from the power she had, I was hoping we didn't have to fight her at the time. She confused me, though. If she really has no choice but to be our enemy, then you'd think she would have taken the chance to attack us. She said her orders were absolute, but wouldn't that include eliminating anything that stood in her way if she had the chance?"
-
>"She's asked us to join her, more than once. I know she'd rather that than kill us - and she's not the only one of the Champions that says similar. Perhaps she is stretching her orders enough to leave us alive, in the hope that power which could aid them is not squandered? I would like to think she might genuinely desire peace, if peace could be had somehow. I wish she would be more direct about what her orders are, but the last time we spoke it was the same - she would not share information that she believed we could use against them. This leaves us in a rather difficult position, given how nearly no one else knows anything about them."
-
>"She's asked us to join her, more than once. I know she'd rather that than kill us - and she's not the only one of the Champions that says similar. Perhaps she is stretching her orders enough to leave us alive, in the hope that power which could aid them is not squandered? I would like to think she might genuinely desire peace, if peace could be had somehow. I wish she would be more direct about what her orders are, but the last time we spoke it was the same - she would not share information that she believed we could use against them. This leaves us in a rather difficult position, given how nearly no one else knows anything about them."
>"Didn't you say there were more of these Champions? One of them might be less... difficult to get information from."
-
>"Well, you've already met Elis, the Champion of Air. She was the one who made Sanae her Avatar in front of our apartments. She is... far less cooperative than Louise, largely hostile, relatively indifferent to Terran life. Louise called her a fool to us, more than once. Fire was... also antagonistic, and even domineering to their fellow Champion, Ice. She had Ice attack us at school yesterday morning, just... because, I think. We weren't even actively interfering with their plans at the time; I think she might just have been curious to see what we'd do. Though, we did manage to find a common foe last night, and Fire was just a little more cooperative afterward, although I'd still be surprised if she was amenable to a pleasant chat without us actually joining their side. And Ice... Ice seems perhaps most kindly-disposed to us of all. She shielded us during the battle at the shrine last night, and risked Fire's anger with her to help save Satori's life. But she is kept under Fire's proverbial thumb, and Fire is much less kind. I have yet to see the two of them apart. She nearly begged us to join them earlier, because otherwise she felt we would die - that she would be forced to kill us herself, alongside Fire. The other two Champions, Earth and Forest, have yet to enter this world - though I am not in a hurry for them to do so, either; Louise implied that Forest may be much more powerful than the others."
-
>"Well, you've already met Elis, the Champion of Air. She was the one who made Sanae her Avatar in front of our apartments. She is... far less cooperative than Louise, largely hostile, relatively indifferent to Terran life. Louise called her a fool to us, more than once. Fire was... also antagonistic, and even domineering to their fellow Champion, Ice. She had Ice attack us at school yesterday morning, just... because, I think. We weren't even actively interfering with their plans at the time; I think she might just have been curious to see what we'd do. Though, we did manage to find a common foe last night, and Fire was just a little more cooperative afterward, although I'd still be surprised if she was amenable to a pleasant chat without us actually joining their side. And Ice... Ice seems perhaps most kindly-disposed to us of all. She shielded us during the battle at the shrine last night, and risked Fire's anger with her to help save Satori's life. But she is kept under Fire's proverbial thumb, and Fire is much less kind. I have yet to see the two of them apart. She nearly begged us to join them earlier, because otherwise she felt we would die - that she would be forced to kill us herself, alongside Fire. The other two Champions, Earth and Forest, have yet to enter this world - though I am not in a hurry for them to do so, either; Louise implied that Forest may be much more powerful than the others."
>"Wait a moment." Reisen says. "You're saying that the Fire Champion is the Ice Champions' owner?"
-
>"I am not sure the exact relationship between them - neither is Louise, for that matter, though she as well has never seen them apart. But Fire did... act rather like that was the case, yes."
-
>"I am not sure the exact relationship between them - neither is Louise, for that matter, though she as well has never seen them apart. But Fire did... act rather like that was the case, yes."
>"That's the impression I got meself." Rin adds. "Makes dealing with those two even trickier. If we killed Fire- I'm not saying we should, Mistress." she adds quickly. "I'm just saying. I don't mean to say that I want to."
-
>"I understand; carry on."
-
>"I understand; carry on."
>The kasha nods. "If we ended up killing Fire in a fight, that's got as good a chance at turning Ice against us totally as it does getting her to come over to our side. I've seen people in that deep before."
>"Yeah, I think I see your point." Reisen says thoughtfully. "Well, what about the other Avatars, would they know something more? Patchouli wasn't completely rational today, but that might not happen with the others."
-
>"Sanae is the only other I know of. Elis implied that Ice had already found her own Avatar - a Lunarian - but I know nothing about them other than that. And while she obviously wasn't furious in the same way, well... you heard the way she spoke on some subjects."
-
>"Sanae is the only other I know of. Elis implied that Ice had already found her own Avatar - a Lunarian - but I know nothing about them other than that. And while she obviously wasn't furious in the same way, well... you heard the way she spoke on some subjects."
>"A Lunarian?" Reisen blurts. "How is that possible?"
-
>"I don't know. That's just what she said."
-
>"I don't know. That's just what she said."
>"Have they been to the Moon?"
>"Not 's far as we know." Rin replies. As Reisen puzzles over that one, a thought seems to strike Rin. "Now, Lunarians are awful rare here on Earth, right?"
-
>That is true, right?
>"Quite rare, I think. But I don't know if that means we can easily find out of the identities and locations of all the Lunarians in the city."
-
>That is true, right?
>"Quite rare, I think. But I don't know if that means we can easily find out of the identities and locations of all the Lunarians in the city."
>Very true.
>"Well we could start with the ones we do know, right?"
-
>How many do we know that are in this city?
-
>How many do we know that are in this city?
>The only Lunarian besides Reisen you know of, for certain, that lives in Mayoiga is Dr. Eirin Yakogoro.
>You have some suspicions about one of your teachers, Kaguya Houraisan, but you don't know for certain if she was from the moon, or if she was simply employing artifacts that used Lunarian magic.
-
>"The only one I know for sure is Dr. Yakogoro. And, well, there's also that possibility that Ms. Houraisan is a Lunarian."
-
>"The only one I know for sure is Dr. Yakogoro. And, well, there's also that possibility that Ms. Houraisan is a Lunarian."
>"Houraisan-sensei?" Reisen starts. "I thought that was just a rumor."
-
>"During the incident at school yesterday morning, she used some artifacts to work what Kiku recognized as Lunarian magic. Kiku did not believe they could be used by anyone other than a Lunarian. This may or may not be true, but I admit that it's more than a little suggestive, under the circumstances."
-
>"During the incident at school yesterday morning, she used some artifacts to work what Kiku recognized as Lunarian magic. Kiku did not believe they could be used by anyone other than a Lunarian. This may or may not be true, but I admit that it's more than a little suggestive, under the circumstances."
>"Can non-moonfolk use moon magic?" Rin asks Reisen.
>"Moonfolk?" Reisen replies with an amused smile. "But I'm actually not sure. I didn't have any magical talent, so I was never forced to study much in that area. The common belief among Lunarians was that no Terran could ever learn how to use our magic, but how much of that was Lunarian arrogance and how much was fact, I don't know."
-
>"Do you know any other Lunarians in town, by any chance?"
-
>"Do you know any other Lunarians in town, by any chance?"
>Reisen shakes her head. "But I think I might know someone who does. Koakuma."
>"Hey yeah." says Rin. "Koa's got an ear for that kinda thing."
-
>"Oh, hmm. It's a thought."
>How exactly does challenging a slave owner for their slave work, under the slave codes in place here? Are they obligated to accept such a challenge? Who determines what that challenge is?
-
>How exactly does challenging a slave owner for their slave work, under the slave codes in place here? Are they obligated to accept such a challenge? Who determines what that challenge is?
>A challenge must be made by someone who is demonstrably able to accept the responsibility of owning a slave. An unemployed hobo living under a bridge would not be able to make a 'legal' challenge, as he or she would not be able to care for it. It wasn't common for someone in your position, and your age, to challenge for a slave as you did, but you are gainfully employed and have a consistant shelter, so your challenge stood.
>The challenge must also take the form of a competition that both parties must be able to compete in. Challenging a one-legged owner to an ass kicking contest, for example, would be right out.
>The owner is not actually obligated to accept the challenge, save for the obligation of honor and pride. Virtually no Oni could refuse a challenge they had a chance of winning, and if one ever did, they'd be a laughingstock everywhere they went. They'd be branded a coward, and that label is one of the worst of all labels an Oni could ever be saddled with.
>There's no definitive ruling on which side gets to decide the nature of the competition once the challenge has been accepted. In your case, Konngara challenged you to tennis because she wanted to beat you at your own game, but you could as easily have made the challenge yourself, provided you named something the both of you had a fair chance of winning.
>"Oh, hmm. It's a thought."
>"But, let's leave that aside for a moment." Reisen says. "What happens to these Champions if we stop them? Like, if you could hold them the way you held Louise?"
-
>"I'm not even sure we can do that, at this point. The link between Patchouli and Louise was actively eroding the walls of the prison, even before Patchouli gained her Avatar powers. I was having to constantly reinforce it during the confrontation at the apartments or risk it breaching. But assuming we could hold them.... Well, the whole idea was for them to be willing to live here without doing harm to others. If they can genuinely agree to that, I have no issue with them migrating from their world to ours. I do not even think their population is very large, given the predation. But if, as Louise said, they are forcibly bound to the orders of their Mother, and she is demanding conquest, then perhaps we will have to take it up with her. Imprisonment was only ever until they were willing to be peaceable. I'd be more than willing to try and teach them about our world, and how to live within it. I am sure that it is possible."
-
>"I'm not even sure we can do that, at this point. The link between Patchouli and Louise was actively eroding the walls of the prison, even before Patchouli gained her Avatar powers. I was having to constantly reinforce it during the confrontation at the apartments or risk it breaching. But assuming we could hold them.... Well, the whole idea was for them to be willing to live here without doing harm to others. If they can genuinely agree to that, I have no issue with them migrating from their world to ours. I do not even think their population is very large, given the predation. But if, as Louise said, they are forcibly bound to the orders of their Mother, and she is demanding conquest, then perhaps we will have to take it up with her. Imprisonment was only ever until they were willing to be peaceable. I'd be more than willing to try and teach them about our world, and how to live within it. I am sure that it is possible."
>"But Louise said that Makai was even more dangerous to our kind than it was to hers. How could we possibly go there?"
-
>"I don't know. I don't even know how to get there at the moment, even if we could survive there. But if it's what we need to do, then we shall have to find a way. Though perhaps there is some way to contact her without actually traveling to Makai itself. I know Louise said that Mother's full focus is on suppressing the power of Makai as much as she can, but that mightn't mean it's impossible to get her attention briefly, somehow. We're still operating on a shortage of information here."
-
>"I don't know. I don't even know how to get there at the moment, even if we could survive there. But if it's what we need to do, then we shall have to find a way. Though perhaps there is some way to contact her without actually traveling to Makai itself. I know Louise said that Mother's full focus is on suppressing the power of Makai as much as she can, but that mightn't mean it's impossible to get her attention briefly, somehow. We're still operating on a shortage of information here."
>"And the ones that seem to have all the information aren't willing to give it up, since they see you as the enemy." Reisen offers up a short sigh. "Not the best position to fight from."
-
>"No. But, well, we'll have to manage somehow. After Patchouli's parents, I'd like to try and speak with Sanae's. Maybe between the two of them, we can learn something useful. And hopefully there are no more emergencies today."
-
>"No. But, well, we'll have to manage somehow. After Patchouli's parents, I'd like to try and speak with Sanae's. Maybe between the two of them, we can learn something useful. And hopefully there are no more emergencies today."
>"'Sayin' that invites trouble..." you hear Lily murmur from beneath her sheets.
-
>"Oh, I think trouble has been inviting itself along just fine lately. How are you feeling?"
-
>"Oh, I think trouble has been inviting itself along just fine lately. How are you feeling?"
>The little blonde groans. "Lily White has a headache in her whoooole body."
-
>"Oh dear... Is there anything I can do for you?"
-
>"Oh dear... Is there anything I can do for you?"
>"Can I just lie down here for a bit?"
-
>"You can lie there as long as you'd like."
-
>"You can lie there as long as you'd like."
>"Okay." Lily them promptly sandwiches her head between the two pillows she'd been lying on. When she asks, "Did we win?" the sight and sound of her voice makes you laugh despite yourself.
-
>"Patchouli was subdued. We don't have our old friend back yet, but everyone here is safe for now."
-
>"Patchouli was subdued. We don't have our old friend back yet, but everyone here is safe for now."
>Why do you suppose she seems to have taken that fight a bit harder than the rest of us? Rin asks you privately.
-
>I think Lily's power was always... somewhat less than ours, and she got hit much worse by that fiery dome attack than the rest of us. If there's anything beyond that, I'm not sure.
-
>I think Lily's power was always... somewhat less than ours, and she got hit much worse by that fiery dome attack than the rest of us. If there's anything beyond that, I'm not sure.
>Rin nods slightly. I'll keep an eye on her for ya. Just in case.
>Lily groans out an affirmative. "Good. No more fighting for a while."
-
>"I certainly hope so."
>To Reisen: Incidentally, how many years have the Knowledges owned you?
-
>"I certainly hope so."
>To Reisen: Incidentally, how many years have the Knowledges owned you?
>Less than a year, actually. It's only been.... 9 months or so.
-
>Have we really only known the two of them that long?
-
>Have we really only known the two of them that long?
>Less than that. Patchy only moved into Moonside a couple months ago herself, at the start of the school year.
-
>Oh. Less than I thought. There's a clause in the oni slave codes that allows for permanent release of a slave after a certain period of time, and prevents anyone else from ever claiming them as such. But I'm, um, afraid 9 months is nowhere near long enough.
-
>Oh. Less than I thought. There's a clause in the oni slave codes that allows for permanent release of a slave after a certain period of time, and prevents anyone else from ever claiming them as such. But I'm, um, afraid 9 months is nowhere near long enough.
>I don't know if that applies to me, Byakuren. I'm not like other slaves on this planet.
-
>That may be true, but I know from my research regarding Rin's situation that all slavery in Yamato is supposed to be bound beneath the oni slave codes, and that should include you.
-
>That may be true, but I know from my research regarding Rin's situation that all slavery in Yamato is supposed to be bound beneath the oni slave codes, and that should include you.
>The rabbit stares at you for a moment. I'd... never heard... Thought of that before.
-
>This also means someone could theoretically issue a challenge for your ownership, and they would be bound by it.
-
>This also means someone could theoretically issue a challenge for your ownership, and they would be bound by it.
>It... does?
-
>It does. Just as I did for Rin. ...technically, I could even take your papers by force, and if they were unable to stop me, they would be legally mine.
-
>It does. Just as I did for Rin. ...technically, I could even take your papers by force, and if they were unable to stop me, they would be legally mine.
>You... Can, can you actually own two slaves at once? she asks. I know some people that did, but they were pretty rich, and a lot older than you are.
-
>Do we know what strictures apply here? In terms of our right to take ownership or whatever?
-
>Do we know what strictures apply here? In terms of our right to take ownership or whatever?
>You are correct in your thought that you wouldn't even need to formally challenge the Knowledges for ownership of Reisen. All you'd need to do, in the simplest terms, is beat them up and take her papers. It is rather crude, but that's how the Oni operate. For Byakuren Hijiri to own two slaves at once would require you to spend more time at work, but apart from that, there's no 'legal' reason why you couldn't own both Rin and Reisen, not from an Oni perspective.
>There would be another complication you can think of as well. The maximum occupancy for the Moonside apartments is two. It's usually only 1, but Reimu made an exception for Rin and Reisen, given their circumstances. You wouldn't be able to keep them both in your apartment.
-
>There's no specific legality I know of that would forbid it.
-
>There's no specific legality I know of that would forbid it.
>Reisen regards you evenly for a long, silent moment, then lowers her head. I'm not as lucky as Rin, Byakuren. I... can't imagine that happening.
-
>Give her a smile
>Well, we'll see about that.
-
>Give her a smile
>Well, we'll see about that.
>Besides, I couldn't live with you. Reisen points out gloomily, addressing a point you yourself just thought of. You know the apartment rules.
-
>Well, surely an apartment next door doesn't violate any legalities, either. We can figure something out. I wouldn't let a few logistical wrinkles stop me from helping you be free.
-
>Well, surely an apartment next door doesn't violate any legalities, either. We can figure something out. I wouldn't let a few logistical wrinkles stop me from helping you be free.
>Free... Plainly the concept is one that Reisen is having a bit of a time wrapping her head around.
>As she stews, there is a quiet, polite knock on the door.
-
>Let's go answer the door while she mulls that over
-
>Let's go answer the door while she mulls that over
>Pulling the door open as quietly as possible, so as not to disturb Lily or Reisen, you find that Dr. Knowledge has returned. "I hope I'm not disturbing you." she says quietly, in her native Francais tongue.
-
>Respond in kind: "Not at all. What is it?"
-
>Respond in kind: "Not at all. What is it?"
>"There is a shrine maiden from one of the nearby temples at the front door. She's asked to speak with one of your group. She did say that it could wait if you were tired or resting, but I thought I should at least check before sending her home."
-
>"No, I can speak with her."
>Let's go see what she has to say
-
>"No, I can speak with her."
>Let's go see what she has to say
>As you walk past the younger Knowledge, she enters into the room, and you hear her speaking quietly with Rose before she pulls the door to, leaving you to retrace the steps you took to get back to the entrance. Which, you think, is the first time in the past day or two when you've really had a moment when no one was within visual range. The sensation is actually slightly weird now.
>The miko waiting for you on the other side of the main door is a pale-skinned woman with short blue hair and blue wings dotted here and there with black and white areas. The vaguely crest-like shape her hair takes on tip hints at her being a blue jay youkai, making her most likely a Fire miko, as that shrine holds the majority of the winged shrine maidens here in town. "You are Magical Lotus?" she asks in a pleasant voice.
-
>"I am, yes. What can I do for you?"
-
>"I am, yes. What can I do for you?"
>"My name is Ruri, a servant of the Fire Bird." she introduces herself. "I know you must be tired after that fight, so I don't want to keep you for long. But I wanted to speak with you about this incident before I reported back to Haruka onee-sama. In the event you had any information or messages to pass along to her."
-
>"Of course; go ahead."
-
>"Of course; go ahead."
>"Onee-sama's told us about the demons and their youma that they make. Was that woman you were fighting one of those demons?"
-
>"No. Though she is... linked with one of them. But the battle here today had nothing to do with their agenda, and was in fact opposed by that demon. It was... a personal grudge."
-
>"No. Though she is... linked with one of them. But the battle here today had nothing to do with their agenda, and was in fact opposed by that demon. It was... a personal grudge."
>"I see." The jay's brown eyes narrow ever so slightly. "And that woman who appeared after the last explosion. Was she also linked to the demons?"
-
>"She was a demon. Or at least what you are referring to when you use that word. I am not altogether fond of it; it ascribes them more malice than I think she or some of her compatriots possess."
-
>"She was a demon. Or at least what you are referring to when you use that word. I am not altogether fond of it; it ascribes them more malice than I think she or some of her compatriots possess."
>"The encounter that Onee-sama described certainly seemed sufficiently 'malicious'." Ruri counters. "And I could say the same for the sensation of power I registered from that woman you fought as well."
-
>"I would not disagree with either of those. There is a clear and present danger to their activities here, as I explained to Haruka last night. But their species is no more of like mind and dark heart than any other."
-
>"I would not disagree with either of those. There is a clear and present danger to their activities here, as I explained to Haruka last night. But their species is no more of like mind and dark heart than any other."
>Ruri seems to consider that for a moment before saying, "Considering the fact that the demon who left with the woman did not strike at you, I have no cause to doubt that claim. Have you any idea why she did not do just that?"
-
>"Because I believe that she, too, would like to see a peaceful resolution to this conflict. Not all her kin may agree with her, but it's a start."
-
>"Because I believe that she, too, would like to see a peaceful resolution to this conflict. Not all her kin may agree with her, but it's a start."
>"Then you believe the situation here is secure?"
-
>"For the time-being, at least, yes. Though given how frequently the unexpected has happened lately, I hesitate to promise much."
-
>"For the time-being, at least, yes. Though given how frequently the unexpected has happened lately, I hesitate to promise much."
>"I understand. And, the Metal Sister who was fighting with you. What is her status?"
-
>"Sleeping. She's injured, but I don't think think it's anything too serious; a doctor who was here has already taken a look at her."
-
>"Sleeping. She's injured, but I don't think think it's anything too serious; a doctor who was here has already taken a look at her."
>"So she said. But I make a point to double check matters of safety whenever I can. And, what of you and your comrades? I hope none of you suffered any serious injury."
-
>"Nothing serious, thankfully. Though I feel more than a little worn out, I will admit."
-
>"Nothing serious, thankfully. Though I feel more than a little worn out, I will admit."
>She nods. "Which actually brings me on to my next point. Onee-sama had mentioned to us that you and your comrades might be joining us for some training later today. I will inform her that this will have to be postponed."
-
>Chuckle a little
>"Yes, I'm afraid we've already had quite a workout today already."
-
>Chuckle a little
>"Yes, I'm afraid we've already had quite a workout today already."
>"She will understand." the jay assures you.
>"One last thing, about that woman you were fighting. Onee-sama informed us that our magic would have had no effect on these demons. But what of that woman? Would our magics affect her? I did not arrive in time to witness her strike the woman with her magics."
-
>"The containment gel she used on her did hold her briefly, though only briefly. The iron dome she raised in her defense blunted some attacks, but was soon destroyed. So while it's possible she might not possess the same immunity that the demons do, the magnitude of her power was still great enough to effectively defeat the techniques used against her."
-
>"The containment gel she used on her did hold her briefly, though only briefly. The iron dome she raised in her defense blunted some attacks, but was soon destroyed. So while it's possible she might not possess the same immunity that the demons do, the magnitude of her power was still great enough to effectively defeat the techniques used against her."
>"That is excellent news. The idea of a threat of this magnitude that was beyond our ability to combat was not sitting well with a number of my Sisters."
-
>"I do want to stress that even if they are not immune to your powers, engaging one in direct combat should be considered to present an extreme danger - and something best avoided, if at all possible."
-
>"I do want to stress that even if they are not immune to your powers, engaging one in direct combat should be considered to present an extreme danger - and something best avoided, if at all possible."
>"I do not know if you are aware of this, Magical Lotus, but extreme danger is a possibility we shrine maidens are made aware of before our training starts. It is our responsibility to maintain the safety of this city, this world in fact, from threats supernatural. The fact that we seem to share this responsibility with you now does not diminsh it in any way."
>You appear to struck a nerve with the blue jay.
-
>"My apologies; I did not mean to cause offense. I just wanted to emphasize how much more powerful these are than most supernatural threats you may have faced. I do not doubt your order's bravery or dedication for a moment; I have fought alongside them several times already, and seen them stare down death itself. But I do not want any of them die because they underestimate the power they face."
-
>"My apologies; I did not mean to cause offense. I just wanted to emphasize how much more powerful these are than most supernatural threats you may have faced. I do not doubt your order's bravery or dedication for a moment; I have fought alongside them several times already, and seen them stare down death itself. But I do not want any of them die because they underestimate the power they face."
>Ruri works her jaw for a moment, then nods. "I will take your warning as you meant it. However, I would suggest you speak with Haruka-sama about some of the threats the four shrines have faced over the years. You might be surprised at what she has to say."
>"Incidentally, did you have any other messages you wished to pass along to Haruka?" she asks diplomatically.
-
>"None that I can think of at present, I believe."
-
>"None that I can think of at present, I believe."
>"Very well, then." The blue haired miko gives you a stiff nod. "I believe I have enough to make my report to Onee-sama. I will leave you to your rest."
-
>"Thank you. And be well."
>Let's return to our room
-
>"Thank you. And be well."
>Let's return to our room
>The blue jay gives you a stiff nod, then blurs slightly as she shifts into her animal form, heading for the sky. You observe that the rain has ceased to fall, and the chill in the air has abated slightly. The clouds seem to have thinned slightly as well, you might even see some sunlight before the end of the day. That would be a most welcome sight.
>Alisaie has left the room again when you return to your friends' presence. Rin and Reisen are sitting next to each other now, and though they are not speaking vocally, their general bearing indicates a private telepathic conversation. Lily, for her part, seems to have dozed off again.
-
>Let's give them a little wave, but otherwise leave them to their conversation, and go plunk ourselves down again
-
>Let's give them a little wave, but otherwise leave them to their conversation, and go plunk ourselves down again
>Rin returns your wave as you select an empty bed to have a sit upon. I was just telling Rin what I was telling you earlier. Reisen informs you.
-
>About the circumstances that led to you leaving the moon?
-
>About the circumstances that led to you leaving the moon?
>Yeah. She and I've talked about some of the owners I've had in the past, but I've never talked with her about that far back.
-
>I know it's quite the personal confidence you've shared with us. Thank you. For, well, for being willing to extend that kind of trust to us.
-
>I know it's quite the personal confidence you've shared with us. Thank you. For, well, for being willing to extend that kind of trust to us.
>We may be fighting together for some time, I don't want us to be tripping over secrets later. If the rest of the Avatars and Champions are like that, we probably shouldn't be distracted at the time.
-
>It makes practical sense, too, of course; nonetheless, I appreciate it. And don't think for a moment that I think less of you for anything you said.
-
>It makes practical sense, too, of course; nonetheless, I appreciate it. And don't think for a moment that I think less of you for anything you said.
>The rabbit gives you a quiet nod.
-
>Well, I'll leave you to it.
>How are we feeling, anyway? Exhaustion-wise.
-
>Well, I'll leave you to it.
>How are we feeling, anyway? Exhaustion-wise.
>Actually, not as bad now as you might have thought. You wouldn't want to run any marathons, but you'd describe yourself as more 'tired' than 'exhausted'. Certainly less exhausted than Lily, by the looks of it. Although you might prefer to be at home, and at peace, for the rest of the day, you have energy enough to function.
-
>Do we think we'd get much out of delaying this impending conversation to rest on the bed a while longer?
-
>Do we think we'd get much out of delaying this impending conversation to rest on the bed a while longer?
>Apart from not having to deal with the probably aggravation of Madame Knowledge's attitude, more rest certainly wouldn't hurt any at this point. If for no other reason that Lily seems to need it more than you, and it gives Rin and Reisen more time to chat.
-
>Then let's give ourselves a little rest. We've certainly more than earned it.
-
>Then let's give ourselves a little rest. We've certainly more than earned it.
>Settling yourself in, you lay down flat upon the not entirely comfortable bed. With Rin and Reisen holding their conversation telepathically, the only real sound in the room is the sound of Lily's subdued snoring. Despite the unfamiliar surroundings, and the events that have transpired today, you find yourself with a faint smile of contentment on your face. Being with your friends like this- well, your friends and your girlfriend, that still feels good to say- it just feels right. It is as it should be. There is a sense of peace, of completement, that you get when you're with your friends and loved ones. You think you could actually fall asleep if you wanted to.
-
>If we doze off briefly, that's probably okay. One of the others will wake us if it's something urgent.
-
>If we doze off briefly, that's probably okay. One of the others will wake us if it's something urgent.
>Content in the ability to truly relax for the first time today, you roll over and shut your eyes, hearing only the sound of your own and Lily's breathing. She is recovering, you are recovering, and Rin and Reisen are bonding now in a new way. These are the good moments....
>The next thing you know, you feel a gentle hand on your shoulder, and the sound of Rin's voice saying, "Lotus?"
-
>Smile
>"Yes?"
>Do we have any sense of how much time has passed?
-
>Smile
>"Yes?"
>Do we have any sense of how much time has passed?
>"I'm sorry to wake you, but Madame Knowledge herself is askin' ta see us."
>It's hard to say, as this place has no windows, and there don't appear to be any clocks visible from your vantage point.
-
>"Well, I suppose she would come to us if we didn't go to her first. How long was I asleep?"
-
>"Well, I suppose she would come to us if we didn't go to her first. How long was I asleep?"
>"'bout an hour and a half."
-
>"Oh, wow. Longer than I thought."
>Glance around to the other people in the room. Are Lily and Anya still asleep?
-
>"Oh, wow. Longer than I thought."
>Glance around to the other people in the room. Are Lily and Anya still asleep?
>"Ya needed it."
>Reisen is currently waking Lily up, with evidently a bit more difficulty than Rin had with you. Anya is no longer in her bed, but there is a large snow leopard curled up in the corner of the room.
-
>"I won't deny that."
>Stand and stretch
>"I take it Anya was up in the meantime?"
-
>"I won't deny that."
>Stand and stretch
>"I take it Anya was up in the meantime?"
>Rin takes a step back to give you space to get to your feet. A bit of sleep did you some noticable good. You might even be ready for a fight now, though taking on another Avatar would be a stretch. You're also hungry, you note, as you set your joints to popping with a bit of stretching.
>Your kasha nods and points one of her tails in the direction of the big cat. "That's her. Said she heals faster like that."
-
>"Oh, fair enough."
>Work out the rest of the kinks, and wait for the rest of us to be ready - assuming Lily is actually going to be coming
-
>"Oh, fair enough."
>Work out the rest of the kinks, and wait for the rest of us to be ready - assuming Lily is actually going to be coming
>We filled her in on some of the details, Rin says silently as you put your body through its waking paces. But she kinda didn't want to talk much to us. I think she's still angry over the Satori thing.
>"Man overboard!" you hear Lily yell and mutter at once as she pops upright, forcing Reisen to nimbly evade the blonde's head.
-
>Understandable. I'd have asked Kiku for an update on some things if I wasn't hoping she's asleep right now.
>Giggle
>"Welcome back to the land of the waking."
-
>Understandable. I'd have asked Kiku for an update on some things if I wasn't hoping she's asleep right now.
>Giggle
>"Welcome back to the land of the waking."
>She did say that she was only out this way 'cause she wanted some space from Kiku AND Satori. I figured that she, an' some more of them, haven't liked the way Kiku's handled things.
>Lily stretches out her arms and wings with a big yawn. "What's for breakfast?"
-
>Also understandable. Problems on all fronts.... Well, let's deal with this one first.
>"I think 'breakfast' is going to have to wait for our appointment with Madame Knowledge. After that, I believe I could use some food myself."
-
>Also understandable. Problems on all fronts.... Well, let's deal with this one first.
>"I think 'breakfast' is going to have to wait for our appointment with Madame Knowledge. After that, I believe I could use some food myself."
>"We have an appointment? .. Am I late?"
-
>"No, not really. Uh, at least I don't think so."
>Glance around
>"Though I imagine we've kept her waiting long enough by now."
-
>"No, not really. Uh, at least I don't think so."
>Glance around
>"Though I imagine we've kept her waiting long enough by now."
>"All right, I'm getting up." The winged woman hasn't lost any of her pep, as she springs out of bed with more energy than you did. It'd be difficult to guess she'd just come through a fight, let alone the kind of fight you had. "But when we're finished, we're getting pie."
-
>Nod
>"Absolutely. Pie it is."
>Let's go pay a visit to Madame Knowledge
-
>Nod
>"Absolutely. Pie it is."
>Let's go pay a visit to Madame Knowledge
>The rabbit giggles at Lily's perky attitude. It is only now that you note that Poppy has shifted into her Saber Spectrum. This is not too great a surprise, though, as of the three outfits she has shown, Saber is the most restrained. She hasn't materialized her sword, though. Probably just as well.
>A rather average looking young man with muddy brown hair is standing outside the door when you leave the room, in the kind of black and brown suit that marks him as a servant of the house. He introduces himself as your guide to the dining room, where Madame Knowledge awaits you. And to the young man's credit, he performs in this task while only trying to steal the occasional glance back at Reisen. You can't entirely hold this against him. Even armored, Reisen cuts a fine figure.
>You find the elder Knowledge woman seated at the head of a rather lengthy table lit by a trio of overhanging candle-bearing candleobras, slicing politely into what appears to be a stuffed, roasted pheasant. The only other occupant of the table is Alisaie, who is working on a smoked fish of some kind.
>The brown haired man clears his throat diffidently and lowers his head. "The women you wished to see, Madame." he announces you in Francais.
>"Very good, Maurice, you are dismissed." As the young man withdraws, she daps at her lips with a napkin and looks up at you. "We meet again, Magical Lotus."
-
>"If only the circumstances were better ones."
-
>"If only the circumstances were better ones."
>"My sister tells me that you four have recovered from that earlier unpleasantness?"
-
>"Well enough, at least."
-
>"Well enough, at least."
>"Good. My servants will be needing that room back before long." she replies, a note of dismissal in her tone.
-
>"Of course. I appreciate you letting us use it."
-
>"Of course. I appreciate you letting us use it."
>The bespectacled woman nods faintly. "And, I express my gratitude to you four, for defending my home and my safety." she says with measured politeness, as though she was merely reading from a script.
-
>"Thank you. I am glad we were able to prevent her from doing serious harm to anyone."
-
>"Thank you. I am glad we were able to prevent her from doing serious harm to anyone."
>"Yes. Your power may not be entirely conventional, but I will admit, it does appear to be rather effective."
-
>"I take it you witnessed the battle, then?"
-
>"I take it you witnessed the battle, then?"
>"One would have been hard pressed to miss it."
-
>"And did you see who we were fighting?"
-
>"And did you see who we were fighting?"
>"Yes."
-
>"Has... Alisaie informed you of what we told her earlier?"
-
>"Has... Alisaie informed you of what we told her earlier?"
>"It is no concern of yours." Madame Knowledge says dismissively.
-
>"It is a concern of mine. And I should think it a concern of yours as well, being your own daughter."
-
>"It is a concern of mine. And I should think it a concern of yours as well, being your own daughter."
>"And that is why it is not a concern of yours." she replies casually as she returns to her meal.
-
>Firmly: "Even were she not a friend, the actions of the Champions and those in league with them are our business, and I should thank you to treat this manner with the seriousness that it deserves."
-
>Firmly: "Even were she not a friend, the actions of the Champions and those in league with them are our business, and I should thank you to treat this manner with the seriousness that it deserves."
>Madame Knowledge looks up, vaguely annoyed. "You're still here? I have nothing else to say to you."
>Alisaie gives you a glance, a look of chagrin and apology on her face.
-
>"Your daughter's well-being is at stake here, and while we intend to help her to the best of our abilities, there is much about what has happened to her that we do not yet understand. For her sake, I would entreat you to answer a few simple questions."
-
>"Your daughter's well-being is at stake here, and while we intend to help her to the best of our abilities, there is much about what has happened to her that we do not yet understand. For her sake, I would entreat you to answer a few simple questions."
>"I do not care about your intentions." the magus replies. "Nor do I require your assistance."
-
>"Respectfully, this has escalated well beyond being a 'family matter'. As Avatar of Water, Patchouli has joined ranks with beings that represent a clear and present danger to the safety of the wider public. I assume this fact is not lost on you after what just transpired in front of your home. This is not something that can be let slide, and whether you not you intend to take action, we will. We are not 'offering assistance with a personal matter', but requesting cooperation in a matter of public safety."
-
>"Respectfully, this has escalated well beyond being a 'family matter'. As Avatar of Water, Patchouli has joined ranks with beings that represent a clear and present danger to the safety of the wider public. I assume this fact is not lost on you after what just transpired in front of your home. This is not something that can be let slide, and whether you not you intend to take action, we will. We are not 'offering assistance with a personal matter', but requesting cooperation in a matter of public safety."
>"Why don't you concern yourself with these other beings." Madame Knowledge suggests. "We require no help do deal with my daughter. You may leave now."
-
>Can we get any sense of just how much magical power Madame Knowledge here actually has?
-
>Can we get any sense of just how much magical power Madame Knowledge here actually has?
>You can't gauge the upward limit of her power, not until she actually does something. But you can tell that Alisaie is the stronger of the two, and by a fairly hefty margin. Even though you are not at your best, you feel that any one of your group could take Madame Knowledge in a fight, even Lily.
-
>"I don't believe you are listening. Or you are choosing not to hear. Your daughter is entangled with a major threat to public safety, and another confrontation with them will happen. You can refuse to speak with us, but in so doing, you will only further endanger her. Your silence will not sweep this issue under the rug, however much you might wish it to. If there is anything at all you know about the magical link she shares with the Champion of Water - that she has shared in some form for some time now - withholding may actively endanger her life."
-
>"I don't believe you are listening. Or you are choosing not to hear. Your daughter is entangled with a major threat to public safety, and another confrontation with them will happen. You can refuse to speak with us, but in so doing, you will only further endanger her. Your silence will not sweep this issue under the rug, however much you might wish it to. If there is anything at all you know about the magical link she shares with the Champion of Water - that she has shared in some form for some time now - withholding may actively endanger her life."
>"I don't believe you are listening. I have asked you to leave. I do not intend to ask you again."
-
>Reisen, where are your ownership papers held?
-
>Reisen, where are your ownership papers held?
>Somewhere in the Knowledge's room, the master bedroom of the place. I'm not sure exactly where, but they're definately there.
-
>How far away is that? Do you think they might be locked up somehow?
-
>How far away is that? Do you think they might be locked up somehow?
>Reisen tilts her head slightly towards the door on the eastern wall. Down the hall that way. It isn't too far. And I doubt they'd be locked up, since nobody that works or visits here goes into that room.
-
>Not even servants to clean the place?
>"You needn't; you've made it clear you value your autonomy more than her safety. I suppose I should not have expected more concern from a woman who tried to hypnotize her own daughter into obedience rather than treat her with any kind of respect."
-
>Not even servants to clean the place?
>"You needn't; you've made it clear you value your autonomy more than her safety. I suppose I should not have expected more concern from a woman who tried to hypnotize her own daughter into obedience rather than treat her with any kind of respect."
>I'm not sure. But they wouldn't do so without direct orders to do it.
>Madame Knowledge no longer bothers to even try to hide the haughty disgust on her face when she looks up at you. "Samuel?"
>"Madame?" the brown haired man standing to your right answers.
>"Show these women to the door. They have far overstayed their welcome."
>"Yes, Madame." the young man turns towards you. "Would you please follow me?"
-
>Look to Alisaie
>"Alisaie, I'd like to apologize if anything I've said or am about to say has made you uncomfortable. And thank you again for your kindness earlier."
>To our allies: And I apologize to the rest of you for putting you on the spot, but I've had quite enough of this.
>Back to Madame Knowledge, and be firm
>"One last thing. Under the oni slave codes that govern all slave ownership in Yamato, forceful seizure of ownership papers is considered a legal transfer of ownership, if the original owner is unable to prevent it. When we leave here, I intend to take Reisen's with me. Feel free to try and stop me, if you like."
>Calmly turn and walk towards the door Reisen indicated, though keep our awareness up for any reprisals
-
>Look to Alisaie
>"Alisaie, I'd like to apologize if anything I've said or am about to say has made you uncomfortable. And thank you again for your kindness earlier."
>To our allies: And I apologize to the rest of you for putting you on the spot, but I've had quite enough of this.
>The meek summoner nods slightly. "I am sorry, Lotus. I knew it would turn out this way."
>We're with ya, Mistress. Rin replies automatically.
>>Back to Madame Knowledge, and be firm
>"One last thing. Under the oni slave codes that govern all slave ownership in Yamato, forceful seizure of ownership papers is considered a legal transfer of ownership, if the original owner is unable to prevent it. When we leave here, I intend to take Reisen's with me. Feel free to try and stop me, if you like."
>Calmly turn and walk towards the door Reisen indicated, though keep our awareness up for any reprisals
>The reprisal you receive doesn't actually come from Madame Knowledge, but from the muddy haired young man now standing behind. He catches your shoulder rather firmly. "I don't think so."
-
>Sheath ourselves in a close-range Sapphire Lotus and firmly push his hand away from us with it
-
>Sheath ourselves in a close-range Sapphire Lotus and firmly push his hand away from us with it
>Samuel finds his hand repulsed by your shield of blue light.
>"If you want to make yourself look foolish, I would rather you do it somewhere else." Madame Knowledge says as Samuel tries again, this time reaching out to grab Rin.
>Mistress? the kasha asks, plainly looking for approval to strike the young man, who still seems determined to obey his employer.
-
>Can we extend the shield around her, likewise? Even around all of us, in a sort of bubble-fashion?
-
>Can we extend the shield around her, likewise? Even around all of us, in a sort of bubble-fashion?
>You believe you can, yes. But while your Sapphire Light is passing through your allies, it will be softer and more permeable.
-
>Permeable enough for someone's hand to pass through? Would standing closer help?
>And did this mean only while in transit? Would it be more solid again AFTER extending it?
-
>Permeable enough for someone's hand to pass through? Would standing closer help?
>And did this mean only while in transit? Would it be more solid again AFTER extending it?
>Technically yes, but it would take a level of strength beyond the norm for a human, at the very least. Even in its softer state, your Sapphire Lotus should be able to repel anything south of an Oni or an exceptionally strong human or Kappa.
>Yes. Once you stop expanding the light, it will resolidify.
-
>Don't strike him.
>Expand our light quickly to shield Rin also
-
>Don't strike him.
>Expand our light quickly to shield Rin also
>Okay, but-
>Rin's objection is silenced by the growth of your blue light. Samuel may be determined, but he doesn't have the power to force his way through your softened light, and is pushed farther back.
>"Do you even realize where you are?" Madame Knowledge demands. "This is the home one of the strongest mages in all of Yamato. How far do you think you'll get?"
-
>"I already told you my intentions. I have no grievance against anyone else here, but I will not brook the way you've treated her, the things you've made her do. I will see her free of you, and anyone else who would dictate the way she live her life."
>Move with me.
>Continue in the direction we were going
-
>"I already told you my intentions. I have no grievance against anyone else here, but I will not brook the way you've treated her, the things you've made her do. I will see her free of you, and anyone else who would dictate the way she live her life."
>Move with me.
>Continue in the direction we were going
>"Then so be it." Madame Knowledge touches her throat faintly and you sense a faint surge of magical energy. "Intruder alert in the dining hall." she says, and her voice echoes from each exit of the room, likely throughout the house. In a number of places ahead and behind you, you sense other sources of magic for a moment, then they fade.
>That might make this more complicated. Rin muses.
>It's not gonna stop our leader! Lily replies brightly. She's on a mission.
>Your blue light pushes the door ahead of you open, and you exit out into a short hallway than curves to the right before ending in a T junction. Two young women in maid uniforms of a similar unimpressive shade of brown that Samuel is wearing stand in your way, one in the middle of the hallway holding a short dirk, the other about five feet back from her and armed with nothing but her broom. That one, however, has her arm outstretched, and appears to be conjuring a spell.
-
>Can our Indigo Lotus counter forming magic without the kind of violent backlash it had the time we used it on the woman in the CRA's basement?
>To Reisen: Which direction?
-
>Can our Indigo Lotus counter forming magic without the kind of violent backlash it had the time we used it on the woman in the CRA's basement?
>To Reisen: Which direction?
>Sadly no. Indigo Lotus is designed to take the gathering energy of an attack and turn it back on its wielder. But on the upside, you can't imagine that it would do that much damage to the girl. The magic she's preparing is very weak, a very simple, basic spell. It is of no threat to you whatsoever. Even without your Sapphire light protecting you.
>And that's assuming you'd damage her at all. Your power is geared towards fighting things that are evil, and this girl in all likelihood isn't, and nor is her magic. Your Indigo Light may very well work on her, but unless she is an evil-minded girl, it may not damage her at all. Or if it does, it certainly wouldn't be as much as an evil target.
>To the right. Reisen replies after a brief pause for thought.
-
>Well, if the magical energy of the spell is that ignorable, then let's ignore it.
>Keep moving forward, with our shield around us for anything that woman might try to do with that dagger, though try to keep a nonthreatening posture.
>"We mean no threat to anyone or anything here. We are just going to free a woman from unjust bondage, and then we will be gone."
-
>Well, if the magical energy of the spell is that ignorable, then let's ignore it.
>Keep moving forward, with our shield around us for anything that woman might try to do with that dagger, though try to keep a nonthreatening posture.
>"We mean no threat to anyone or anything here. We are just going to free a woman from unjust bondage, and then we will be gone."
>Confident in your defenses, you continue your advance.
>"We're sorry, too." the blonde in front of you says as she raises her dirk. "But what Madame says goes." The woman charges forward, only for her and her dagger to be repulsed by your light, and she staggers back against the wall. Down the hall, the brunette unleashes her spell, and a single bolt of pinkish energy flies from her hand. The impact of that bolt against your shield is about as hard as blowing a hair out of your face. Plainly dismayed, she starts to invoke another spell as you advance on her, but she doesn't complete it before your shield does to her what it did to her comrade, brushing her aside like a drift hit by a snowplow.
>The sound of footsteps rapidly approaching from the left and right sides of the junction speak to the fact that you'll have to do this again very soon, but as you advance a couple of feet beyond the spellcaster, one of the symbols on the blue carpet beneath your feet emits a surge of magic, and the corridor is filled with a blinding white light, momentarily blinding you.
-
>Did anyone close their eyes in time to avoid that ?
>Could we sense anything about that before it triggered? Can we sense other such magical traps nearby? Or any other magic at work, for that matter?
-
>Did anyone close their eyes in time to avoid that ?
>Could we sense anything about that before it triggered? Can we sense other such magical traps nearby? Or any other magic at work, for that matter?
>I did. Reisen replies telepathically before you hear her say aloud, "Saber blade!", materializing her sword.
>No, not until you stepped on it.
>You cannot.
>You can sense a spell forming from the room you came from. It appears to be Alisaie's summoning magic.
-
>Oh no, she's not going to get involved, is she...?
>Then tell us what you see and where we should tread, until our eyes recover.
>Keep moving forward until given instructions otherwise. Steady pace, so we don't trip up in each other until we can see again.
-
>Oh no, she's not going to get involved, is she...?
>Then tell us what you see and where we should tread, until our eyes recover.
>Keep moving forward until given instructions otherwise. Steady pace, so we don't trip up in each other until we can see again.
>You would certainly hope not, for more than one reason. But the practical side of you has to admit that, given the sort of person Madame Knowledge seems to be, it really wouldn't surprise you one bit if she made her sister do her dirty work for her.
>Got it.
>With you, Rin and Lily temporarily blinded, the three of you join hands to aid your slowed steps, and ensure you don't fall over each other. Plenty of time for that once the job's done. This might be tricky. Reisen reports. There's a lot of these patterns in the carpet, and I can't tell which ones are magical.
>As the rabbit slowly guides you down the hallway, you hear two sets of footfalls stop some distance ahead of you. "Uh, isn't that the girls who were fighting outside?" you hear a young man ask.
>"Sure is." a girl's voice answers.
>"Nuts to that." the man's voice is accompanied by the sound of feet going back the way they came, followed almost immediately by another pair of feet following them.
>Hey, boss. Lily's voice says as you hear another sound coming up behind you. It sounds like insect's wings, but the bug they're attached to has to be very large indeed. I can clear the road ahead if you want, like I did it back at the Tiger shrine.
-
>What's that coming up behind us?
>Did we actually step on the symbol that triggered the flash of light before it did so?
>Do we think Amber Lotus could deactivate a sigil like that even if it were 'dormant' at the time?
-
>Did we actually step on the symbol that triggered the flash of light before it did so?
>Do we think Amber Lotus could deactivate a sigil like that even if it were 'dormant' at the time?
>Yes.
>You're not certain.
>What's that coming up behind us?
>Your vision is now starting to clear, and even through the white blurry haze, you can see Reisen's expression of dread. Bees.
>Bees? says Lily.
>Bees. Three of them. And they're the size of Hyozan.
-
>You can try to put them to sleep, at least, Lily. I'd rather not lay a hand on any of the people here, if we can help it, even one as gentle as that.
-
>You can try to put them to sleep, at least, Lily. I'd rather not lay a hand on any of the people here, if we can help it, even one as gentle as that.
>"Roger roger." Lily says aloud, the sound of her wings rustling indiacting her turning around. "Oh wait, I can't shoot through your shield."
-
>Oh, right, sorry.
>Let's open up an appropriate-sized hole for her to do her thing
-
>Oh, right, sorry.
>Let's open up an appropriate-sized hole for her to do her thing
>The buzzing the bees fills the hallway as you open up a very small hole in your Sapphire dome to allow her energy to pass through. You daren't open a larger one, for although the bees, each of which has tried to sting your shield, have failed to anything signifigant to your defenses, you still wouldn't want to get stung by a bee the size of a dog. "A little to your left, Lily." Reisen guides the blonde. "Little more. Down a little. There, go now."
>"Spring Evening Dozings." a sweet smell wafts out from Lily's hands as she conjures a stream of pink flower petals and sends them out at the bees. Your eyes have cleared enough to see, as one, the overgrown insects drop to the ground like they'd been gassed. "Done and done." Lily declares with an energetic nod.
>"Nice trick." Reisen compliments her. Lily beams.
-
>Seal the hole back up
>Reisen, I don't suppose you know of any other traps or tricks this place might have in store that we could avoid?
-
>Seal the hole back up
>Reisen, I don't suppose you know of any other traps or tricks this place might have in store that we could avoid?
>I didn't know about THOSE traps. she replies as you plug up your back hole.
-
>On the off-chance this might disarm anything else like that...
>Open up another hole in front of us, and sweep a wide-angle Amber Lotus along the floor down the hallway we are going, in the hope that this might render any similar traps inert
>Then continue onward
-
>On the off-chance this might disarm anything else like that...
>Open up another hole in front of us, and sweep a wide-angle Amber Lotus along the floor down the hallway we are going, in the hope that this might render any similar traps inert
>Then continue onward
>Trusting Poppy to watch your back, you dismiss your Sapphire light and employ your Amber energy, sending a disarming wave of power down the hallway. One rune on the floor glows amber in the wake of your spell, as does one of the two bronze busts in the corridor you're approaching. Apparantly your power DOES work on these things when they're not active. Feeling more secure, you bring up your sapphire dome once more and press on.
>No one else interferes with your path down the hall, and your vision is mostly back to normal as you take a right turn as Reisen indicates. Lily reports similar recovery, though White Rose still is having a bit of trouble. The hallway you now find yourself in has a similarly market carpet to the one you just left behind. Poppy reports no one behind you, but there is someone standing outside an expensive looking purple-colored door with a small bird statue across the hall from it. This young man has the same colored hair as Samuel but is darker skinned and has his hair cut much shorter. He's also emanating an aura of magic that eclipses that of the young maid you bowled over before. With a wave of his hand and a sharply spoken word, he fills the corridor with a thick fog.
>Behind you, you sense two sources of magic charging. One is Alisaie's, and the other, you would guess, is Madame Knowledge herself. The latter is distinct from her sisters by the unmistakable sensation of evil you get from it.
-
>Evil? Like, actual evil? Does it remind us of anything specific we've previously encountered?
>And this man's power eclipses the maid's by how much?
-
>Evil? Like, actual evil? Does it remind us of anything specific we've previously encountered?
>And this man's power eclipses the maid's by how much?
>Actual evil. And it isn't the same sensation as, say, Komachi's necromancy or the power of the Champions. It is a unique feeling, but it is definately evil, you are certain of that. And equally certain are you that Alisaie's magic is good aligned.
>If the maid was a first-year student in her first week in magic, this butler would be nearing the end of his first year.
-
>If the fog is actually too thick to really see through:
>Lily, disperse that, if you would?
>And open a hole large enough for her to do this
>Otherwise, or if we can still navigate alright, carry on forward
-
>If the fog is actually too thick to really see through:
>Lily, disperse that, if you would?
>And open a hole large enough for her to do this
>Otherwise, or if we can still navigate alright, carry on forward
>You got it, boss. Opening another gap, Lily points her hand forward. "Spring Lily Flower Breeze!" This time a stream of multi-colored flower petals fly from her hand, accompanied by a surprisingly strong gust of wind. The brown haired young man is exposed rather suddenly as his fog disappears. To his credit, he recovers his composure rather quickly, casting another spell, his hand glowing with a pinkish light. Your Sapphire shield ripples most faintly against the seemingly invisible magic but comes no closer to failing than it did when it stopped that mage's spell. Fiercely determined, the butler tries to cast again, but before he can fire off another spell, he comes into contact with your Sapphire light and is bodily pushed back by, leaving you standing in front of the purple door.
>This is it. Reisen informs you. You might have guessed that yourself, as you sense a magical seal upon the door.
-
>Let's Amber Lotus that seal
-
>Let's Amber Lotus that seal
>As you drop your shield, Poppy plants herself firmly between you and the butler-mage who still seems raring to go. Sure enough, as you blast the door with your Amber Light, disarming not one but two distinct magical impressions, he casts again. But rather than any kind of direct offense, a twisting pattern of color shimmers into being in front of the now only mundanely-locked door. It is a pretty sight, like a tiny piece of a fading rainbow had been taken from the sky to ripple in a hallway, but you can't really tell what effect, if any, it was supposed to have on you or your friends.
-
>Did this pattern of color disperse afterward, or is it remaining here?
>And we ourselves don't feel any effect from it, nor see any effect it had on anyone else?
-
>Did this pattern of color disperse afterward, or is it remaining here?
>And we ourselves don't feel any effect from it, nor see any effect it had on anyone else?
>It's still there.
>Correct. Lily smiles at it, but that's hardly a surprise, it IS pretty.
-
>Well, if it's actually barring the front of the door, let's dispel that, too
>To the Butler: "I'm sure you're only following orders, but the only thing we mean to do in this house is free a woman from slavery. You've already tried to remove us; no one could say otherwise."
>Barring further obstacles, let's step into the room
-
>Well, if it's actually barring the front of the door, let's dispel that, too
>To the Butler: "I'm sure you're only following orders, but the only thing we mean to do in this house is free a woman from slavery. You've already tried to remove us; no one could say otherwise."
>Barring further obstacles, let's step into the room
>It doesn't seem to have substance, but there's no real sense in taking the risk of walking through it, so you give it a blast of Amber light, and the pattern of lights dissipate.
>"Maybe. But I haven't been ordered to stand down yet, either."
>He doesn't cast again before you push the door open, revealing a rather large bedroom. You have time to take nod of the sizable bed on the west well, the bookcases on either side of it and on each of the four walls, and the large window with a door that leads to the back yard, before the sound of something charging down the hallway catches your attention. Three creatures round the bend you came down and barrel towards you. Two of them are white furred badgers that are close to six feet in size, but despite their blocky musculature and savage looking teeth and claws, they don't appear to be as savage and vicious as the badger is usually depicted. The one in the middle, though is far worse. It is a 15 foot long cobra with burning red eyes and jet black scales. Your mystic senses register that it was created by evil magic.
>"Gods above..." the butler breathes as he lays on the snake, and he takes two large steps backwards.
-
>Do we think we have any way to UNsummon a creature directly, incidentally? To just cast it back to wherever it came from?
>But that cobra can eat a Scarlet Lotus anyway. Fire away!
>And do keep our shields ready if the badgers reach us too quickly afterward
-
>But that cobra can eat a Scarlet Lotus anyway. Fire away!
>And do keep our shields ready if the badgers reach us too quickly afterward
>As you line up your scepter with the undulating ophidian, Lily too raises her hand.
>"Scarlet Lotus."
>"Spring Evening Dozings."
>Another cloud of pinkish flowers billow down the hallway as your red light shoots out, striking the ugly thing right below its jaw. Your barrage blows a hole through the fel snake, and it falls to the floor, where it dissolves into thin air. The two badgers, meanwhile, manage to resist Lily's spell for a little longer than the bees did, but soon enough they, too, collapse into sleep, skidding to a halt several feet away from you.
>Rather than try to advantage of your momentary distraction, the butler still seems stunned by what he just saw. "That snake, that... Where did?"
>"I strongly suspect you should ask Madame Knowledge about that." Poppy replies darkly.
>Do we think we have any way to UNsummon a creature directly, incidentally? To just cast it back to wherever it came from?
>Actually, you think you can conceive of a technique to do that. At least for creatures conjured from nothingness; you're less sure it would work on something called to this world from another. It wouldn't work on the Champions, for example, or that young dragon Patchouli accidentally conjured up. And stronger creatures may be able to resist the banishment, the way stronger youma resist your Violet Light. But your Teal Lotus will be able to banish conjured creatures back to the aether, or wherever it is that summoners get their summons from.
As soon as you name it, of course.
-
>As it undoes the fetters that binds creatures to this physical world, we shall call it 'Release from Raga'
>Damn you for making me spend so much time pouring over glossaries of Buddhist terminology for something fitting
>"Yes, it was almost certainly her work; your employer is... not a nice woman."
>Let's step into the room and have a glance around for any likely places Reisen's papers might be
-
>As it undoes the fetters that binds creatures to this physical world, we shall call it 'Release from Raga'
>Damn you for making me spend so much time pouring over glossaries of Buddhist terminology for something fitting
>You have learned the spell "Teal Lotus: Release from Raga"
>Convert to Shinto. Make it easier to mack on the mikos, if nothing else.
>"Yes, it was almost certainly her work; your employer is... not a nice woman."
>Let's step into the room and have a glance around for any likely places Reisen's papers might be
>The butler's body slumps in a sign you've come to recognize as defeat. Even though he doesn't appear tired, you don't expect him to give you any more trouble. So with him and the newest summons dealt with, you enter into the Knowledge's master bedroom.
>It is a very large room, indeed. Covetousness isn't in your nature, but you have to admit, a room like this would make it a lot easier to accommodate your Rin, and any other slave you liberate from their unjust owners. On the downside, though, there's lots of places to poke things one wants hidden. The bookcases, of which there are five, all appear to be organized precisely by subject matter and then alphabetically. There's even an old fashioned scroll rack in the southeast corner of the room, situated next to a rune-etched circle emblazoned upon the carpeted floor. The closet doors are padlocked, which could mean it contains something its owners wish to hide, but for your purposes, there is a much more tempting target. There is a sizable wooden chest located at the foot of the Knowledges' large bed, also padlocked.
-
>This looks more like the size of case to store documents instead of clothing?
>Do we have a nondestructive means to open that lock?
-
>This looks more like the size of case to store documents instead of clothing?
>Do we have a nondestructive means to open that lock?
>It is a fair size. Depending on how it's compartmentalized, it could hold both.
>You yourself do not.
-
>I don't suppose anyone has a non-destructive means of opening padlocks?
-
>I don't suppose anyone has a non-destructive means of opening padlocks?
>Why not just blow it off? Rin asks.
-
>I'm sure we could, but I did want to make a point of causing as little collateral damage as possible, on principle. As unpleasant a woman as she is, we're not here to ransack her household, just to set right a wrong.
>Pause a moment to see if anyone else offers any suggestions
>If not: But I suppose if that is what it requires.
>Try to cut through the padlock on the chest with a precise Vermillion Lotus, and do try our best not to damage anything else
-
>I'm sure we could, but I did want to make a point of causing as little collateral damage as possible, on principle. As unpleasant a woman as she is, we're not here to ransack her household, just to set right a wrong.
>Pause a moment to see if anyone else offers any suggestions
>If not: But I suppose if that is what it requires.
>Try to cut through the padlock on the chest with a precise Vermillion Lotus, and do try our best not to damage anything else
>She sent giant bees after us! Lily yells in your minds. BEES! The gloves are off.
>Rin chuckles, then nods. She did attack us, Byakuren. And it isn't like we're knockin' her goons over the head, it is just a lock.
>Then Poppy clears her throat. I think I can unlock it without breaking it. she offers, though she does so very hesitantly.
-
>Privately to her: Do you feel uncomfortable doing this?
-
>Privately to her: Do you feel uncomfortable doing this?
>Reisen doesn't meet your eyes. About the act itself, no. But... I know it would hurt. More than I was fighting Patchy.
-
>In that case, absolutely not. I'll take care of it.
>Let's try sawing through it with a precise Vermillion Lotus after all
-
>In that case, absolutely not. I'll take care of it.
>Let's try sawing through it with a precise Vermillion Lotus after all
>Taking careful aim with your scepter, you invoke your Vermillion light, but with much less intensity than you would if you were unleashing it upon a youma. The shackle component quickly melts through under the assault of your red beam, and drops down to the floor in little time.
>Back the way you came, you feel another weak sensation of magical energy being used, but it doesn't take as long to see the results of this one. The circle in the corner of the room glows briefly, and Madame Knowledge materializes in the room. "You know," she starts, "had you simply said right off that you were interested in acquiring Reisen Udongein from me, I would have been perfectly willing to deal with you."
-
>"I will not make a business transaction of a woman's life."
-
>"I will not make a business transaction of a woman's life."
>"But you're fine with the idea of stealing a woman." she counters as she steps off the magical circle.
-
>"She is not property to be 'stolen'. The one order I will give, so long as I hold her contract, is for her to live her own life as she chooses. And then as soon as I have held it long enough to grant her protection from future enslavement, she will be legally free."
-
>"She is not property to be 'stolen'. The one order I will give, so long as I hold her contract, is for her to live her own life as she chooses. And then as soon as I have held it long enough to grant her protection from future enslavement, she will be legally free."
>"On the contrary, Lotus, 'property' is exactly what Reisen Udongein is. She considers herself as much, if you want to know." As Madame Knowledge argues with you, the telepotation circle activates again, bringing a rather downcast looking Alisaie into the room.
-
>"Don't presume to speak for someone you do not even consider a person! Even if you call her 'property', I will not. She is a woman, not a tool - and a woman deserving of at least as much respect and autonomy as anyone else in this room! My challenge is legally valid; I do not intend to retract it. If you'd rather we not rifle through your documents, you can save yourself time and hand her papers over now."
-
>"Don't presume to speak for someone you do not even consider a person! Even if you call her 'property', I will not. She is a woman, not a tool - and a woman deserving of at least as much respect and autonomy as anyone else in this room! My challenge is legally valid; I do not intend to retract it. If you'd rather we not rifle through your documents, you can save yourself time and hand her papers over now."
>"My ownership is equally legal." Madame Knowledge replies. "And was quite costly, as well. One does not acquire the only Lunar Rabbit available cheaply."
>"Then why did you say you were willing to deal?" Poppy asks. "If she was so expensive."
>"Ultimately, Reisen Udongein was a means to an end. But that means is no longer necessary. And despite your incredibly bad manners, Lotus, and your invasion of my home, I am still willing to come to an accomodation. I am, after all, neither ungrateful nor uncivilized."
-
>"Polite words cannot amend a callous spirit. You, who bought a woman for the express purpose of brainwashing your own daughter, who still cares more about appearances than her well-being! We came here and risked our lives to save yours, and I am glad that we succeeded, but I will not dignify your treatment of Reisen by giving you... compensation for freeing her from you."
-
>"Polite words cannot amend a callous spirit. You, who bought a woman for the express purpose of brainwashing your own daughter, who still cares more about appearances than her well-being! We came here and risked our lives to save yours, and I am glad that we succeeded, but I will not dignify your treatment of Reisen by giving you... compensation for freeing her from you."
>"So be it." the older woman says. "But you do realize that, after I deal with this traitor of a sister of mine, we will be coming for you."
>Her words practically make Alisaie jump. "Traitor?! But why-?"
>"Oh, don't you play innocent with me."she growls, turning her head to look at her sister. "There's only one way she could have known about Reisen's powers, and that's if you somehow found and told her."
>"But.... I never...."
>"I don't know how you found out." Madame Knowledge presses on. "But I'll figure it out."
-
>"What a hateful woman you are. 'Traitor'? Alisaie had nothing to do with this. Patchouli herself realized what you were doing to her; you never did give her credit enough for her intellect."
-
>"What a hateful woman you are. 'Traitor'? Alisaie had nothing to do with this. Patchouli herself realized what you were doing to her; you never did give her credit enough for her intellect."
>"My firstborn's capabilities are not in question here, miss Lotus." Madame Knowledge replies flatly.
-
>"Yet you would be so quick as to accuse someone uninvolved? Not a word on this subject passed between us and your sister, and my greatest regret in all this business is that she ended up dragged into it anyway."
-
>"Yet you would be so quick as to accuse someone uninvolved? Not a word on this subject passed between us and your sister, and my greatest regret in all this business is that she ended up dragged into it anyway."
>"In that case, you should never have tried to undertake this fool course of yours." the elder mage says mercilessly. "The minute you tried to take something from me, you became her enemy, too. Her judgement has not always been wise, but she is still a Knowledge." Madame Knowledge points her sister forward. "Now, prove it."
>Despite the pain on her face, Alisaie lowers her head submissively and steps forward. "Yes, sister..."
-
>"Alisaie, I know this isn't how you want your power to be used - to fight to keep a woman in bondage to a mistress who speaks of her as if she were some... expensive piece of furniture. You chose to be a healer. One of the very first tenants of medicine is: Do no harm."
-
>"Alisaie, I know this isn't how you want your power to be used - to fight to keep a woman in bondage to a mistress who speaks of her as if she were some... expensive piece of furniture. You chose to be a healer. One of the very first tenants of medicine is: Do no harm."
>"I know." the younger Knowledge answers. "That was one of the reasons I choose summoning as a speciality. That way I'd never have to cast at someone myself." She smiles sadly. "Maybe that was... just an excuse. A moral balm, for my sins."
>"One of our grandfather's words of wisdom." Madame Knowledge agrees. "Some people have a need to justify the acts they take with moralisms."
>"So what's yers?" Rin snarls at her.
>"I have no need of a moral balm for my sins. I have committed none."
-
>"I feel sorry that you cannot see."
>Look to Alisaie
>"But I know you can. No bond of family justifies acting against one's own conscience. No one worthy of that kind of respect would ever demand such a thing! And no matter the authority and command with which an order is given, the only person who determines our actions is ourselves. If this is something you refuse to do, she cannot compel you; you are stronger than her, Alisaie."
-
>"I feel sorry that you cannot see."
>Look to Alisaie
>"But I know you can. No bond of family justifies acting against one's own conscience. No one worthy of that kind of respect would ever demand such a thing! And no matter the authority and command with which an order is given, the only person who determines our actions is ourselves. If this is something you refuse to do, she cannot compel you; you are stronger than her, Alisaie."
>And that, at last, visibly gets under the skin of the seemingly unflappable Madame Knowledge. "How dare you." she demands. "I am the head of the Knowledge family. I have devoted my entire life to the pursuit of the arcane and its mysteries. And you, a nameless nobody, stands there and claims that my younger sister, whose devotion to our family's ways is haphazard at best, possesses skill that eclipses my own?" Her left hand clenches in anger, and malign arcane energy forms around it. "Again I ask, how dare you?!"
-
>"I speak only the truth as I sense it; there is no question which of the two of you possesses the stronger power. Skill in the arcane is more than just the number of years one has studied it, as I'm sure you must realize."
>And be ready to throw up some stronger barriers if this really does push her over the edge. Towards either us or her sister.
-
>"I speak only the truth as I sense it; there is no question which of the two of you possesses the stronger power. Skill in the arcane is more than just the number of years one has studied it, as I'm sure you must realize."
>And be ready to throw up some stronger barriers if this really does push her over the edge. Towards either us or her sister.
>"I also realize that you have none." the magus growls. "I don't know where you got your power, but you are no contemporary of mine. So what gives you the right to stand there and claim that my dilettante of a sister is more skilled than me?"
>I don't know what dillatant is, but it's not a good word, is it? White Rose asks you privately.
-
>It's someone who... only dabbles in a subject, basically. Tries it a little, but doesn't take it very seriously. Though I suspect Alisaie took it a lot more seriously than her sister believes, nonetheless.
>"I can sense the magical power people possess quite readily. And I have as much right to speak my mind as you do; I do not require your permission. You cannot silence every voice who would disagree with you by force of personality alone, and you will not silence this one."
-
>It's someone who... only dabbles in a subject, basically. Tries it a little, but doesn't take it very seriously. Though I suspect Alisaie took it a lot more seriously than her sister believes, nonetheless.
>"I can sense the magical power people possess quite readily. And I have as much right to speak my mind as you do; I do not require your permission. You cannot silence every voice who would disagree with you by force of personality alone, and you will not silence this one."
>Madame Knowledge gives you a twisted smile, and the energy around her hand fades. "You're right."
-
>That's... an unexpected reaction.
>Can we sense anything else unusual in our surroundings? Anything magical, or that may have changed?
-
>That's... an unexpected reaction.
>Can we sense anything else unusual in our surroundings? Anything magical, or that may have changed?
>Indeed it is.
>Now that you scan it, the room itself holds a faint aura of magic about it. That could just be the result of being the living quarters of a family of wizards, or it could indicate something else, you're not sure. And there's definately something magical in that chest you burned the lock off. Whether it's another one of her traps, or some kind of magical artifact, though, is unclear.
-
>Scan harder. Can we pick out something specific? Something changing?
-
>Scan harder. Can we pick out something specific? Something changing?
>There are at least three distinct magical signatures from that chest, and a close scan reveals that one of them has the same signature as the trap that you disarmed earlier.
>As for changing, the only thing that's noticably different about the area since you came into the room is that you can sense the magical aura of Anya not too far down the hall.
-
>Suspicion on high alert
>"I'm glad we agree on something for once. Now is there anything in that chest that you'd rather not get dispelled when I remove the trap you have placed in it?"
-
>Suspicion on high alert
>"I'm glad we agree on something for once. Now is there anything in that chest that you'd rather not get dispelled when I remove the trap you have placed in it?"
>"I fear you may have misunderstood me."
-
>"Then please do elaborate."
-
>"Then please do elaborate."
>"You were right when you said I wouldn't be silencing you. In case you forgot, I will leave that to my sister. If she is indeed as you claim, then sweeping away four exhausted girls shouldn't be too great a problem, now should it? Alisaie." she orders.
>And the sad-faced, downtrodden younger sister of the two squares her shoulders just a little, raises her head, and says, "No."
>The smile vanishes from Madame Knowledge's face. "What did you say?"
>"They risked their lives to save ours." Alisaie protests, turning to face her sister. "How can I repay them with violence?"
>"You already have." the elder says say angrily, and the iron runs out of Alisaie's spine when she does. "I certainly didn't send those bees and badgers after them." She turns her eyes to you. "You did know that those were her summons, yes?"
-
>"I did, yes. But no harm was done, and I know she felt pressured into doing so. I don't hold it against her."
>Look to Alisaie
>"But doing something we regret does not commit us to follow that path through to its end; at every moment, we decide anew what choices we will make. If this is not how you want things to be, you have the power to choose otherwise. What do you want?"
-
>"I did, yes. But no harm was done, and I know she felt pressured into doing so. I don't hold it against her."
>Look to Alisaie
>"But doing something we regret does not commit us to follow that path through to its end; at every moment, we decide anew what choices we will make. If this is not how you want things to be, you have the power to choose otherwise. What do you want?"
>"What I want is for you and my sister to resolve this without anymore violence."
>"I did try." Madame Knowledge says smoothly.
-
>"We have not raised a hand to harm anyone here, nor do I plan to, but I am not leaving without Reisen's papers. If your sister still won't acknowledge her personhood, I am not sure there is much to discuss. Reisen deserves to determine her own life just as much as you do. This is not a privilege one should have to pay for; it is a right."
-
>"We have not raised a hand to harm anyone here, nor do I plan to, but I am not leaving without Reisen's papers. If your sister still won't acknowledge her personhood, I am not sure there is much to discuss. Reisen deserves to determine her own life just as much as you do. This is not a privilege one should have to pay for; it is a right."
>"Reisen's enslavement was the choice she made years ago." Madame Knowledge says. "It was the consequence of her remaining on Earth, instead of being shipped back to the Moon. If you have a problem with that, then you should take it up with her, not me."
-
>"It was that or be executed; which would you choose? I am giving her a better option."
-
>"It was that or be executed; which would you choose? I am giving her a better option."
>"Spare me the naivety, Lotus, you're giving her no options than I. The reality of the situation is that you want Reisen, and you are content to steal her from me and keep her for your own."
-
>"Is it impossible for you to conceive that a person could want nothing more from another than for them to live their own life? To hold power over another, and choose never to exercise it?"
-
>"Is it impossible for you to conceive that a person could want nothing more from another than for them to live their own life? To hold power over another, and choose never to exercise it?"
>"I simply wanted you to stop claiming the moral high ground when you're stealing a slave from someone that bought her legally. All the moral balms in the world don't change the reality of the situation."
-
>"Legal does not mean ethical. Though I doubt manipulating someone's mind without their consent is legal, either, and you gave the command. But I think we could debate this until sundown and not convince each other; if we speak purely of legalities, my challenge for her ownership is as legal as yours. So I'll ask you again: is there anything in that box you'd rather not get dispelled when I disarm it? I can't guarantee I can be that precise. Of course, you could always retrieve them yourself."
-
>"Legal does not mean ethical. Though I doubt manipulating someone's mind without their consent is legal, either, and you gave the command. But I think we could debate this until sundown and not convince each other; if we speak purely of legalities, my challenge for her ownership is as legal as yours. So I'll ask you again: is there anything in that box you'd rather not get dispelled when I disarm it? I can't guarantee I can be that precise. Of course, you could always retrieve them yourself."
>"How gracious of you." the elder mage says poisonously.
-
>"All I'm here for is Reisen, and I'd really rather not damage anything else, but I can sense the trap inside that, and would also rather not set it off."
>Give her another moment, and if she doesn't cooperate, point our scepter at the chest and hit it with an Amber Lotus
>Do so slowly enough to give her a moment to change her mind before we blast it, though
-
>"All I'm here for is Reisen, and I'd really rather not damage anything else, but I can sense the trap inside that, and would also rather not set it off."
>Give her another moment, and if she doesn't cooperate, point our scepter at the chest and hit it with an Amber Lotus
>Do so slowly enough to give her a moment to change her mind before we blast it, though
>Madame Knowledge's face twists for a moment, and she doesn't hide the disgusted look she levels at Alisaie. Obviously the younger sister's defiance, brief though it was, has had an effect on the elder. For a moment, you wonder if the woman's ego is so massive, her perceptions so twisted, that she is incapable of acceding to your demands. But by the same token, she may be equally as incapable of getting her hands dirty if she sees any other choice in the matter. Although it may not be entirely purehearted of you to admit, you can't say the look of consternation on her face is isn't somewhat satisfying. "Do you realize how much you're robbing me of?" she finally grounds out.
-
>"I have no idea how much you paid for her, but this isn't about money. This is about a woman's life."
-
>"I have no idea how much you paid for her, but this isn't about money. This is about a woman's life."
>"And that woman cost me more than the price of a pair of Rolls Royces."
-
>"Then perhaps you should have treated her with more respect. And if your daughter's obedience was worth that kind of money, you could have saved a great sum by treating her with more respect; you might even have averted the resentment that led to this morning's confrontation. There are things no amount of money can buy."
-
>"Then perhaps you should have treated her with more respect. And if your daughter's obedience was worth that kind of money, you could have saved a great sum by treating her with more respect; you might even have averted the resentment that led to this morning's confrontation. There are things no amount of money can buy."
>Madame Knowledge's face twists again. "It seems that we agree on something else. But that doesn't change reality, and I'm not so consumed by the arcane that I've forgotten the value of money. And you're about steal close to a million dollars from me."
>"Maybe-" Alisaie starts to say, but her sister cuts her off angrily.
>"Maybe what?"
>The younger sibling winces, but after a moment, speaks. "Maybe there's another way to look at it?"
>"Another way?!"
>"Reisen and Little Patchy were close to each other, weren't they?"
>"What difference does that make?"
>Rather than answer her angry sister, Alisaie asks you, "If... If you did have Reisen, would that... help? Help get Little Patchy back?"
-
>"It might. Even as she is now, it was clear Patchouli still cared about Reisen, and resented how she'd been treated and the things she'd been made to do. It might do some to soften the anger that has taken root in her to know that Reisen was... free. It was something she herself had wanted, even before today."
-
>"It might. Even as she is now, it was clear Patchouli still cared about Reisen, and resented how she'd been treated and the things she'd been made to do. It might do some to soften the anger that has taken root in her to know that Reisen was... free. It was something she herself had wanted, even before today."
>"Couldn't you think of this like, sister?" Alisaie asks. "As a way of getting our Patchy back."
>"'Our.' Is that what you said?"
>"She's my family, too." Alisaie says, seemingly heedless of the rather dark undertone in her sister's voice. "And I want her safe and back to normal. And if Lotus and her friends can do that, I want to help them."
>Madame Knowledge lets out a long breath. Something in that breath makes the hairs on the back of your neck stand on end. You have the sinking feeling that Alisaie has just said something to her sister that she really shouldn't have. "You see, Lotus? I was right." she says in a quiet, measured voice.
-
>"About what?"
-
>"About what?"
>"My sister seems to have sided with you against me. She's trying to help you rob me."
>"How could you say that, I-!"
>But Madame Knowledge doesn't give her sister a chance to finish her thought. The taller woman turns on her sister and drives her palm into Alisaie's stomach, a surge of magic coming from her hand. Electricity attacks the doctor's body, and she falls to the floor, screaming. "You should have obeyed me." Madame Knowledge intones over her sisters' cries.
-
>Okay, that's quite enough
>Hit Madame Knowledge with a Scarlet Lotus, and let's not be too gentle about it
-
>Okay, that's quite enough
>Hit Madame Knowledge with a Scarlet Lotus, and let's not be too gentle about it
>Pushed beyond the limits of your endurance, you stab your scepter forward and fiercely evoke your Scarlet light, sending a torrential stream of red and white shots at the elder Knowledge. She turns to face your attack, bringing her hand up to cast a spell, but the callous mage never gets a chance to respond to your attack before it hits home. The force of your furious attack does not throw Madame Knowledge into the wall behind her, it throws her clear through the thick wall as she releases her own scream and across the adjacent room several feet away, her flight ending when she impacts the far wall of that room, nearly knocking that one down as well. The elder Knowledge crumples like an empty chip bag.
-
>We... we didn't kill her, did we? That wasn't what we meant to do....
>Someone, go see if she's alright.
>Then lean down and tend to Alisaie
-
>We... we didn't kill her, did we? That wasn't what we meant to do....
>Someone, go see if she's alright.
>Then lean down and tend to Alisaie
>No you did not. Though you really did want to let her have it. And you did that, all right.
>I'm on it. Lily replies quickly, taking to wing and following the path Madame Knowledge carved through her house as she felt the force of your ire.
>Rin, however, has a different reply. Do we have to?
>Madame Knowledge's spell is only now fading, the electric web that had been enveloping Alisaie dissipating. She doesn't appear to be burned anywhere, but she is plainly in pain.
-
>"Are you alright?"
-
>"Are you alright?"
>Alisaie coughs and clutches at her stomach. "Ahhhhh.... I, I think so..." she responds, defaulting to her native Francais.
-
>"I'm so terribly sorry I got you caught up in all this. If I'd had any idea how things would play out...."
-
>"I'm so terribly sorry I got you caught up in all this. If I'd had any idea how things would play out...."
>"No... My fault. I should have known what she'd do."
>The witch's out cold. Lily reports, even her usual bright voice a little subdued. I don't think she'll getting up for a while.
-
>"None of this was your fault! There is no justification for what your sister just did, and her actions rest on her alone. I... still can scarcely believe that even she would stoop so low. It is abominable."
>But nothing too grievous?
-
>"None of this was your fault! There is no justification for what your sister just did, and her actions rest on her alone. I... still can scarcely believe that even she would stoop so low. It is abominable."
>But nothing too grievous?
>Not unless you count the holes in the walls. Lily replies, her voice starting to find her cheer again. Patchouli's mother doesn't have any in her.
>"But I did disobey her. I didn't want to disobey her... I just didn't want to fight you, either."
-
>I hope the inside is just as intact....
>"Alisaie, no 'disobedience' can ever, ever justify treating a person like that. That's abuse, plain and simple. Don't let her voice in your head convince you that you in any way deserved it."
-
>I hope the inside is just as intact....
>"Alisaie, no 'disobedience' can ever, ever justify treating a person like that. That's abuse, plain and simple. Don't let her voice in your head convince you that you in any way deserved it."
>Shake her a few times. Rin suggests to Lily. See if anything falls out. The blonde girl laughs, but does not do as the kasha suggests.
>"That's how it is in our family." Alisaie replies lamely. "The eldest of the generation sets the rule for the others."
-
>"Tradition does not excuse abuse. Nothing excuses that! It doesn't matter who she is or what rights she thinks she has, she does not have the right to assault her own family because they disagree with her. Leadership is born of mutual respect, and she has given none."
-
>"Tradition does not excuse abuse. Nothing excuses that! It doesn't matter who she is or what rights she thinks she has, she does not have the right to assault her own family because they disagree with her. Leadership is born of mutual respect, and she has given none."
>"But... that's how it's been in my family, for years and years."
-
>"Then your family is toxic. If you've been taught that your opinions don't matter, that your person is violable, that your life should be subservient to the dictates of another... then that's not okay! You're a good woman, Alisaie. Even knowing you for so short a time, that much is clear to me. You deserve so much better than this. Family are those who love and support and understand each other, not just those with whom we share an accident of birth."
-
>"Then your family is toxic. If you've been taught that your opinions don't matter, that your person is violable, that your life should be subservient to the dictates of another... then that's not okay! You're a good woman, Alisaie. Even knowing you for so short a time, that much is clear to me. You deserve so much better than this. Family are those who love and support and understand each other, not just those with whom we share an accident of birth."
>"Then... What should I do?" she asks plaintively.
-
>"Get away from her. We cannot change the woman she's chosen to be, but she can only control you as much as you allow her. I'm sure you care about her, but it's not healthy to stay in such an environment. You should be with those who respect you for who you are, not demand you be something else. And if there's anything I can do to help, just ask."
-
>"Get away from her. We cannot change the woman she's chosen to be, but she can only control you as much as you allow her. I'm sure you care about her, but it's not healthy to stay in such an environment. You should be with those who respect you for who you are, not demand you be something else. And if there's anything I can do to help, just ask."
>Alisaie looks down at the floor. "I.... I want to stay, here, for now. Not, not for my sister." she says quickly. "For my Little Patchy. And, for you, too." she adds hesitantly. "I've seen you fight. You might need a doctor?" she offers, smiling shyly.
-
>Smile a little
>"We might yet before all this is over. I'm not saying you need to go back to Francais right away, but I still think you should get out from under this roof. If your sister wasn't pleased before, I imagine she'll be even less pleased now, and I don't think it's healthy for you to stay within her sphere. Though I'm afraid I don't have much room to offer you, myself - just a small apartment that's already shared."
-
>Smile a little
>"We might yet before all this is over. I'm not saying you need to go back to Francais right away, but I still think you should get out from under this roof. If your sister wasn't pleased before, I imagine she'll be even less pleased now, and I don't think it's healthy for you to stay within her sphere. Though I'm afraid I don't have much room to offer you, myself - just a small apartment that's already shared."
>"I have a suggestion." Lily says as she flutters back through the hole in the wall she came through. "There's a man I know really good here in town, and he's always looking to talk to doctors. I know he'd like to talk to you anyway, and he'd probably know a place where you could stay, and stay safe, too."
>Alisaie gives her a grateful look, but her face falls when she looks past Lily to the unconscious form of her sister. It's not hard to see that Alisaie is still intimidated by her, even now. "Ya should listen to 'em, Doc." White Rose says as she walks up behind you. "I've known folks like your sister all my life. If you're here when she comes to, you're gonna be sorry. And that'd make the four of us very upset."
>The doctor nods slowly. "No... No I don't want that. But, but what are you going to do? I know my sister, she will try to find you."
>"Then SHE'D be sorry." White Rose says bluntly.
-
>"I do not fear her magic, and I will not brook her aggression against us or any of the people we care about. We have faced far worse than her, and will do so again. Your sister may be very used to getting her own way, but there are some things beyond even her ability to dominate."
-
>"I do not fear her magic, and I will not brook her aggression against us or any of the people we care about. We have faced far worse than her, and will do so again. Your sister may be very used to getting her own way, but there are some things beyond even her ability to dominate."
>Alisaie actually smiles. "That would a bitter vintage for her to swallow." she says, using an old Francais saying.
-
>"Then I think she'd best get used to it, because even once we get Patchouli back, I think she will be beyond her mother's reach also."
>"Is there anything else we can do for you?"
-
>"Then I think she'd best get used to it, because even once we get Patchouli back, I think she will be beyond her mother's reach also."
>"Is there anything else we can do for you?"
>"That... might be for the best." Alisaie admits slowly. Given how meek she's seemed, hearing that admission from her, uncertain though it may be, gives you some hope.
>"Funny, I started by asking YOU that, didn't I?" she utters a quiet laugh. "Well, would you mind helping me up?"
-
>Smile
>"Absolutely."
>Let's help her up
-
>Smile
>"Absolutely."
>Let's help her up
>You help the light woman to her feet. "Merci." she thanks you, then turns to Lily. "This man you mentioned..."
>"I'll take you to him, when you're ready." Lily says with a big smile, then pauses. "It's okay, right, boss?"
-
>"Oh, of course."
>"And I suppose we should retrieve what we came here for now."
>Let's disarm that chest and take a look inside
-
>"Oh, of course."
>"And I suppose we should retrieve what we came here for now."
>Let's disarm that chest and take a look inside
>Alisaie still seems slightly troubled by that, but Rin smiles at her. "Trust us. It's better this way. Maybe your sister'll be out some cash, but it'll help us get her daughter back to normal." The francais woman says nothing, but she does seem to accept White Rose's words.
>A blast of your Amber Light makes quick work of the trap in Madame Knowledge's chest. Curiously, that signature is the only one that your light destroys, the others remain intact. Seems your Amber Light doesn't work on all magics. The now-disarmed chest yields a collection of glass bottles, jars and vials, some holding powders of various colors, less some holding liquids of various hues. One jar larger than the others is sealed with lead, and while you're curious, that's not what you came here for. You're no thief. Except of slaves.
>The chest also holds three tomes, each with thick leather covers marked with inscriptions and runes that mean nothing to you. There is a recurring symbol of a crescent moon rising out of a rose resting on an open book, which you've also seen around the house. It may be the family crest. Beneath one of these books, you find the target of your searching: Reisen Udongein's ownership papers. There's more of them than there are in Rin's documents, which isn't too surprising, given the nature of her situation that she explained earlier.
>Curiously, though, you also find what appear to be a second set of papers for another slave.
-
>Collect Reisen's papers, and let's have a glance at those others
-
>Collect Reisen's papers, and let's have a glance at those others
>You have acquired: Ownership Papers of Reisen Udongein.
>You have acquired: Reisen Udongein and everything she owns.
>The second set of papers indicates the ownership of one Misato Kamata, a female shark youkai of Yamato nationality. She was acquired from an unlisted source by a Louisoix Knowledge 9 years ago, and ownership was transferred to the woman you just blasted through a wall 5 years ago. Her papers refer to her as a 'lavamancer'.
>You have acquired: Ownership Papers of Misato Kamata.
>You have acquired: Misato Kamata and everything she owns.
-
>Do we have any idea who this Misato is?
>If not: Reisen, do you know a Misato Kamata?
-
>Do we have any idea who this Misato is?
>If not: Reisen, do you know a Misato Kamata?
>You have never heard of her.
>The rabbit thinks for a moment. I think I remember Madame Knowledge talking about her once. I think she said she was a.... A teacher, I think.
-
>Apparently Madame owned her, too.
>Though more importantly.
>Show Reisen her papers
>So long as I hold these, Reisen, you are free. Your life, your choices, your decisions. I will never order you otherwise.
-
>Apparently Madame owned her, too.
>Though more importantly.
>Show Reisen her papers
>So long as I hold these, Reisen, you are free. Your life, your choices, your decisions. I will never order you otherwise.
>She never mentioned, at least not to me.
>Reisen responds with words that you never could have imagined she would. Yes you will, Byakuren. That hits you fairly hard, but she does follow up. Because I know you want to protect me. My slavery was the price I had to pay to stay here on earth, and the Lunarians learned that I was violating that, it'd be the end for me. And that means that you need to think of yourself as my owner. Even act like, every now and again, the same way you do for Rin.
-
>I wouldn't dictate her life either, Reisen. I love her. And if you feel you need to look subservient to me in public for the sake of appearances, that doesn't mean you aren't still free to choose your own path in life. We can just claim it was my idea, if anyone asks.
-
>I wouldn't dictate her life either, Reisen. I love her. And if you feel you need to look subservient to me in public for the sake of appearances, that doesn't mean you aren't still free to choose your own path in life. We can just claim it was my idea, if anyone asks.
>And, if it's my choice that you act like my master? At least, for a while.
-
>Then I will do my best.
>Smile a little
>Though I can't promise to stop thinking of you as a friend.
-
>Then I will do my best.
>Smile a little
>Though I can't promise to stop thinking of you as a friend.
>I don't think I'd believe you if you did. Reisen says, returning your smile. It's just, all my life, I've either been a solider or a fugitive or a slave. I don't think I can just... Pick up a new life, like that. Besides, Byakuren, do you remember what I said after we met Motormaster? That I wish I had an owner like you? Well, now I do. I think... I'd like to enjoy it, for a while.
-
>In that case... welcome to the family, Reisen.
>Give her a little hug
-
>In that case... welcome to the family, Reisen.
>Give her a little hug
>The tall rabbit doesn't seem entirely content with a 'little' hug, as the one she gives you has some more oomph behind it. Is this how you felt, Rin? she asks the kasha behind you.
>You can hear the gentle smile on Rin's face when she answers, Like you couldn't quite believe it were true, but you didn't want to say nothing in case the dream ended on ya?
>Yeah.
>Pretty much. Takes a bit for it ta sink in. But that's what we love about our Mistress here, she'll give ya all the time ya want.
-
>Absolutely.
>"And now that we have what we came for, I think it's well-past time to leave."
-
>Absolutely.
>"And now that we have what we came for, I think it's well-past time to leave."
>"Sounds good to me." Lily agrees.
>Do ya have anything here that you wanted to take with you? Rin asks Reisen.
>Just the Gvoztika out in the garage. Everything else I own is with Patch... At our apartment.
>You keep a flower in a garage? Lily asks, confused.
>Poppy smiles. It's a motorcycle, Lily.
-
>Well, then let's go get that and put this place behind us.
>Do so!
-
>Well, then let's go get that and put this place behind us.
>Do so!
>I didn't know you owned another bike. Rin comments as you head for the door. The proper door, not the one you blasted out earlier. What, one wasn't enough?
>Hardly that. the rabbit answers as you exit the room, heading down the hallway in the reverse direction you came down earlier. And it really isn't much of a bike either, if you ask me. It's Moscovian, and every Moscovian bike in the world seems to be wobbly and hard and made of pig iron. Unless it's ridiculously expensive, which this one isn't. I won this one in a race about a month ago, out in Muenzuka. Me and one of Motormaster's crew had a race for pinks. I don't really have much else to bet with other than my bike. Well.... She offers you a faint smile. I guess, your bike, now.
-
>For... pinks?
-
>For... pinks?
>Sorry, that's racer slang. It's short for 'pink slips', or ownership papers of their vehicle. People don't always wager money on races.
-
>Oh, I see. It... sounds like you risked more than you think you stood to win, though, by the way you describe this bike.
>Grin a little
>Were you feeling confident?
-
>Oh, I see. It... sounds like you risked more than you think you stood to win, though, by the way you describe this bike.
>Grin a little
>Were you feeling confident?
>Not.. especially. Reisen replies, blushing ever so slightly. Not against those two, I wasn't, but it was the only thing I had to bet with. The two of them were harassing one of the race queens at the drag, and I had to do something to get their attention. So I challenged them. Dead End was the one that ended up racing me, and I went home with his bike and mine. If you want my opinion, Byakuren, you're better off selling the thing. The guy put a lot of money into modding it, there's no other way he could have got the kind of speed and handling out of it that he did. But I don't think it's the right kind of bike for you.
-
>Playfully: And what do you think is the 'right kind of bike for me'?
-
>Playfully: And what do you think is the 'right kind of bike for me'?
>Well... To be honest, whenever I thought of you on a bike, it was pretty much always on the back of Marissa's.
>Didn't think of her a biker? Rin asks her.
>Reisen pauses briefly before she answers, Not that, but... Well, I always thought that, well, she and Marissa would.... Well, you know.
-
>
Sorry, too busy messing with canon!
>Life has a habit of leading you in directions you didn't anticipate.
>Take Rin's hand in ours and give it a tender squeeze
-
>Sorry, too busy messing with canon!
>Life has a habit of leading you in directions you didn't anticipate.
>Take Rin's hand in ours and give it a tender squeeze
>The kasha smiles at your gesture of affection. You can say that again.
>Reisen chuckles aloud. Being your slave was going to be interesting enough before you two started keeping each other warm at night, but now... Actually, you just put me in mind of something. Would you mind if we made a quick stop on the way home?
-
>Sure, what is it?
-
>Sure, what is it?
>Reisen slows her step, then says, with a perfectly straight face and a twinkle in her eye, I think I'm going to need some earplugs.
-
>What do y- um... er... well....
>Now seems a suitable time to start turning red
-
>What do y- um... er... well....
>Now seems a suitable time to start turning red
>Reisen maitanins her stoic facade until you, and Rin as well, start to color ever so nicely. Then she laughs aloud. You even blush in unison! she chortles.
-
>Okay, we can laugh at that one.
-
>Okay, we can laugh at that one.
>And so you do, joining your laughter with Reisen's. It's a pity Lily went off the other way with Alisaie, off to safely remove her from the house. She would have enjoyed that moment. Living with Reisen could prove to be interesting indeed. Even if you may need to, shall we say, modulate the volume of certain activities.
>Unless of course, Reisen was even louder, then you could return the needling...
-
>Oh well. A little embarrassment's okay.
>Let's get that bike and get out of here.
-
>Oh well. A little embarrassment's okay.
>Let's get that bike and get out of here.
>Worth it, too.
>A respectable walk through the house, unopposed this time, eventually leads you to a very spacious garage, much more organized that Nitori's, and with far fewer of the smells you might have expected from such a location. At present there are four vehicles within the garage, the only motorcycle situated between a fairly expensive looking sedan and a much more mundane station wagon. Despite Reisen's less than flattering description of the bike, it doesn't look too bad to your eyes. It is a somewhat small bike that has been painted purple and blue, with marroon highlights and lines around the exhaust pipes and main body. The sidecar attached to it is a solid brown, unattractive but solid.
>The only humanoid present when you arrive is a pink-haired woman of moderate height clad in loose fitting black trousers and top, black leather gloves on her hands, a smear of oil on her cheek, and a long sword belted at her waist. "What're you three doing here?" she asks evenly.
>"Just passin' through." White Rose answers as Poppy frowns, looking over the motorcycle. "We're just here ta pick up Reisen's bike."
>"Is that it?" the rabbit asks, pointing at the bike in question.
>"Sure is."
>"But it's the wrong color."
>"That's because I painted it a while back. Madame's owners." the woman says, a note of pride in her voice. "And why are you here for Reisen's bike?"
-
>"Because she is no longer Madame's property and we're here to collect her things."
>Briefly hold up Reisen's ownership papers
-
>"Because she is no longer Madame's property and we're here to collect her things."
>Briefly hold up Reisen's ownership papers
>"So that's what that fuss was all about?" the woman asks as she steps around the Audi she had been standing behind. "I'm guessing it wasn't a smooth negotiation." As she approaches you, something about the air around you makes your guard go up a little. It is cool, and colored with an ancient sadness. It isn't until the pink haired woman gets closer to have a look at Reisen's papers that you recognize the familiarity in the sensation, and the icy blue ring she wears over her glove that gives it off. It is close to the sensation that you got from the ring that the Water Champion gave to that woman you fought back at the CRA. This sword-carrying woman has had contact with the Champion of Ice.
>But she doesn't act like that other woman did. "Yeah, those are her ownership papers, alright. I'm slightly disappointed now." she says with a wry grin. "If I hadn't seen you girls fight earlier, I'd take a stab at taking those papers for myself. Reisen's a fine woman. Well, that's her bike there." she says, pointing to the purple motorcycle. "It's had more than a paint job, too. It's got a smoother ride than a normal gvoztika, and it's more stable as well."
>"You did that?" Poppy asks her, and the woman nods. "How'd you do that without sacrificing speed?"
>"I couldn't." she admits. "Had to take off the turbo. She's no racer anymore. Madame Knowledge didn't want her daughter on a racing bike."
-
>"A moot concern now, though perhaps one I can empathize with for a change."
>"And I hope you'll forgive my bluntness, but... how did you come to possess that ring you're wearing?"
-
>"A moot concern now, though perhaps one I can empathize with for a change."
>"And I hope you'll forgive my bluntness, but... how did you come to possess that ring you're wearing?"
>The pink haired woman looks down at her ring and sighs. "So you noticed."
-
>"Its aura is... distinctive."
-
>"Its aura is... distinctive."
>"Well don't worry. I'm not here for you or your friends. You've got Reisen's papers, so if you want to take her bike and leave, feel free. I'm just sorry I couldn't say good-bye, since I doubt she'll be back here."
-
>"I would still like to know how it happened. Even though I'd prefer to think of the Champion who forged your ring as an ally, she is still dangerous, and I can't simply pretend I didn't notice."
-
>"I would still like to know how it happened. Even though I'd prefer to think of the Champion who forged your ring as an ally, she is still dangerous, and I can't simply pretend I didn't notice."
>"You'd be surprised how easy it can be." the woman replies sourly. "But you're not the type to, right?"
-
>"There is far too much at stake in this conflict to let anything slip between the cracks. There are real people who would already be dead, were we not vigilant."
-
>"There is far too much at stake in this conflict to let anything slip between the cracks. There are real people who would already be dead, were we not vigilant."
>"And you're afraid that's what I'm here to do?"
-
>"I don't know what your intentions for that power are, or under what terms you obtained it - hence my asking."
>Reisen, how well do you know this woman?
-
>"I don't know what your intentions for that power are, or under what terms you obtained it - hence my asking."
>Reisen, how well do you know this woman?
>"I'm just here to keep an eye on Madame Knowledge."
>I've only spoken with her once. Her name's Christine, but folks around here call her Chris. She's not just the mechanic, she's the security for the garage here. Most of these vehicles are pretty expensive. Takes her job seriously, too, from what I've heard. She's pretty handy with that sword of hers, but she doesn't draw it for no reason, keeps her temper in check. And she knows her way around a wrench, too. She was the only one in the manor I could really talk bikes with.
>"Lotus, what's going on here?" White Rose asks you.
-
>"The ring she wears contains the Champion of Ice's power."
>"And why would Ice care about Madame Knowledge? Is it because of Patchouli?"
-
>"The ring she wears contains the Champion of Ice's power."
>"And why would Ice care about Madame Knowledge? Is it because of Patchouli?"
>"It what?" Rin says, her voice lowering.
>"Relax." Christine replies, turning her back to you and taking a few steps away. "My orders don't include you one way or the other. I don't need to give you any trouble right now. Wouldn't get me very far anyway, I saw how powerful you are. Come to think of it," she trails off, stroking her chin. "I suppose there's no need for me to stay here anymore, now that Patchouli's the Water Avatar. That IS what I was here for, yes." she adds, turning her head towards you. "To make sure Madame or Master Knowledge didn't do anything to prevent that from happening."
-
>"How did you become involved with Ice in the first place?"
-
>"How did you become involved with Ice in the first place?"
>"She found me, if you want to know. Why she singled me out among the people that live and work here, you'd have to ask her."
-
>"How long ago was this?"
-
>"How long ago was this?"
>"Yesterday."
-
>"And what did she tell you about herself, her mission? Why did you decide to help her?"
-
>"And what did she tell you about herself, her mission? Why did you decide to help her?"
>The woman barks out a laugh. "As if I had a choice. You probably know how powerful they are better than I do. What was I suppose to do, say no? Not all of us mere mortals have the kind of power you do. Well..." she drawls, glancing down at her ring. "I suppose I do now. But the point stands."
-
>"So, she threatened you, then? It was a demand, not an offer?"
-
>"So, she threatened you, then? It was a demand, not an offer?"
>"She didn't have to threaten me." She gives you a sour look. "You've never faced someone or something that you knew was beyond you, have you? They don't need to threaten."
-
>"Just because someone has power does not mean they intend to impose their will on others through it. I was not there; I did not see what she did, how she acted."
-
>"Just because someone has power does not mean they intend to impose their will on others through it. I was not there; I did not see what she did, how she acted."
>"Well I wasn't about to take the chance. I've taken some pretty heavy chances in my life, but I could sense Ice's power. Even now, I don't think I could beat any of you. What chance would I have had against her?"
-
>"What do you plan to do now?"
-
>"What do you plan to do now?"
>"Like I said, I plan to see you three out, once you're satisfied I'm not going to shoot you once you turn your back to me. I can put my sword down, if you want." she offers.
-
>"It's not our safety that I'm worried about."
-
>"It's not our safety that I'm worried about."
>"Well, my mission here's done. Or, made redundant, I suppose. Doesn't mean I plan to leave, I still work here. Even like working here, even if Madame Knowledge can be a bit difficult." She grins again. "Not that I need to tell you that, I'm sure."
-
>"No. We have all seen her... temperament first-hand."
>"But about your own well-being... If you felt you had no choice but to serve Ice, if you feel trapped in this arrangement and would like to end it, I can break the connection she forged with you."
-
>"No. We have all seen her... temperament first-hand."
>"But about your own well-being... If you felt you had no choice but to serve Ice, if you feel trapped in this arrangement and would like to end it, I can break the connection she forged with you."
>"Well that's awfully generous of you." Christine says with a nod. "But I'm afraid I must refuse. After all, you haven't won yet. I've seen your power. But I've seen hers, too. And for right now, I'm betting on her."
-
>"And if a time comes where you are ordered to strike against the people around you? To help enslave the other people of this world?"
-
>"And if a time comes where you are ordered to strike against the people around you? To help enslave the other people of this world?"
>"Do you have any family?" she asks in reply.
-
>"Yes, of course."
-
>"Yes, of course."
>"So do I. I have a little sister." She turns to look you in the eye. "And I'll do anything I have to do to keep her safe." The look of intensity on her face passes. "That answers your question, I think."
-
>I'm not sure what I should do here. It's hard to fault her for taking what she sees as the only path to keep her family safe, and I still hope that Ice's intentions will align with ours, but at the same time I feel uncomfortable leaving such destructive power in the hands of someone who has admitted they would use it against innocent people, if asked to.
-
>I'm not sure what I should do here. It's hard to fault her for taking what she sees as the only path to keep her family safe, and I still hope that Ice's intentions will align with ours, but at the same time I feel uncomfortable leaving such destructive power in the hands of someone who has admitted they would use it against innocent people, if asked to.
>Do those rings work like youma? Rin asks you. I mean, does breaking them kill what they're attached to?
-
>I destroyed a ring the Champion of Water had given to a woman in the basement of the CRA, and she seemed fine afterward, but admittedly I did so with Violet Lotus. I suppose I don't know if it might cause harm if done through other means, but I don't believe I would seriously harm her if I were to destroy hers as well. It's not like Patchouli's - her connection is much more superficial.
-
>I destroyed a ring the Champion of Water had given to a woman in the basement of the CRA, and she seemed fine afterward, but admittedly I did so with Violet Lotus. I suppose I don't know if it might cause harm if done through other means, but I don't believe I would seriously harm her if I were to destroy hers as well. It's not like Patchouli's - her connection is much more superficial.
>You can head home, then, Mistress. I can take her.
>I don't know that we need to do that. Poppy says to White Rose. I know I don't know her very well, Byakuren, but I really don't think we need to worry about her. If what she's saying is true, and I see no reason to doubt her, then the problem isn't really Christine. It's the Ice Champion. If we find her and either imprison her or win her over to our side, then that'll solve this issue, too.
-
>It likely would, but it seems... risky policy to leave potential threats armed, in the hope they'll never be called to action - not threats to us, but to others. We can't be everywhere at once, and I wouldn't want ignoring her to put innocents in harm's way down the road.
-
>It likely would, but it seems... risky policy to leave potential threats armed, in the hope they'll never be called to action - not threats to us, but to others. We can't be everywhere at once, and I wouldn't want ignoring her to put innocents in harm's way down the road.
>Then you're going to have to fight her, because if she thinks she's protecting her family, that's the only way you're going to get that ring off her.
>Don't ya mean 'we'? Rin asks her.
>Of course. But it's your call, Byakuren.
-
>"We're fighting for her sake too, you know. And for her friends and their friends and family. This world is full of people just as close, just as precious to each other; I refuse to say it's okay for some of them to suffer so long as my few go free. How many people do you think there are with someone precious to protect? People who will never be offered the bargain you took? People that you could just as easily have been."
-
>"We're fighting for her sake too, you know. And for her friends and their friends and family. This world is full of people just as close, just as precious to each other; I refuse to say it's okay for some of them to suffer so long as my few go free. How many people do you think there are with someone precious to protect? People who will never be offered the bargain you took? People that you could just as easily have been."
>"Are you going somewhere with this?" she asks evenly.
-
>"It's just something I would like you to keep in mind, in the days ahead. All of us stand to lose a great deal if the Champions have their conquest - even you. What sort of world do you want your sister to grow up in? What sort of woman do you want her to see when she looks at you?"
>Walk towards the bike
>"We'll be leaving now. I'm going to choose not to disarm you, in the hope that you may never be given cause to use that power to harm anyone. Please don't make me regret my decision."
>Then let's take it and leave
-
>"It's just something I would like you to keep in mind, in the days ahead. All of us stand to lose a great deal if the Champions have their conquest - even you. What sort of world do you want your sister to grow up in? What sort of woman do you want her to see when she looks at you?"
>Walk towards the bike
>"We'll be leaving now. I'm going to choose not to disarm you, in the hope that you may never be given cause to use that power to harm anyone. Please don't make me regret my decision."
>Then let's take it and leave
>"Better a lousy world than no world." Christine replies, making no effort whatsoever to stop you or your two friends. In fact, she actually starts to walk towards the side of the garage door. "If I serve Ice, I get a say in what kind of world they make, at least this little part of it. That's what matters to me. If my sister sees me as a villain for that, I think I can live with that."
>"Best way for you to avoid that?" she asks as she pushes a button, causing the left side door to start to rise. "Win. You beat the Water Avatar. Beat the rest of them, and you won't have a thing to worry about from someone like me." She gives you a casual salute with her right hand. "Good luck."
>The sidecar isn't big enough to accomodate both you and Rin, but your kasha settles that issue easily by reverting to her feline form. After Reisen retreives the bike's keys, you settle yourself into the sidecar and Rin hops up on your lap, a most comfortable position for all parties involved. Reisen gives you and Rin a brief smile at the sight before she fires up the gvoztika. Christine may have toned the thing's engine down, but it still makes more of a racket than Reisen's other bike, which only gets louder as the rabbit applies more gas as she pilots the bike out of its house. "Home, Lotus?" she asks.
-
>"I think so. Lily will still hold us to that pie, but we can work the details of that out later."
>Though if you can find some isolated place to stop in the meantime so we can transform back before we drop your bike off at our place, that might be good. ...I wonder how I will explain your change of ownership to the others, if any of them ask?
-
>"I think so. Lily will still hold us to that pie, but we can work the details of that out later."
>Though if you can find some isolated place to stop in the meantime so we can transform back before we drop your bike off at our place, that might be good. ...I wonder how I will explain your change of ownership to the others, if any of them ask?
>I'm more worried about what we're going to tell them about Patchouli. Reisen says worriedly.
>Or us. Rin counters. Why Byakuren and me weren't there, I mean.
-
>I... don't like lying to our friends. Maybe we shouldn't.
-
>I... don't like lying to our friends. Maybe we shouldn't.
>"I can." Reisen says aloud over the sound of the engine. "I've gotten good at spinning tales to keep secrets over the years. You can leave it to me, if you want."
-
>It's not that. It's no different if you do it. I mean, you might be more convincing than I could, but it still feels... wrong, somehow. It was different when they had no reason to know anything was going wrong, but now?
-
>It's not that. It's no different if you do it. I mean, you might be more convincing than I could, but it still feels... wrong, somehow. It was different when they had no reason to know anything was going wrong, but now?
>But the more people that know, the more people that are going to find out. Now I'm not saying I don't trust our friends at home, not at all. But that's how information works. It spreads. Secrets have legs of their own.
>She might have a point. Rin agrees. If one of those Champions, or someone else, has the same kinda powers that Satori does, they could learn about us just by passing by Minoriko or Letty.
-
>I had hoped that dealing with Satori could put an end to that fear; it was why I went there when I did, in the first place.
>Sigh
>I don't know.
-
>I had hoped that dealing with Satori could put an end to that fear; it was why I went there when I did, in the first place.
>Sigh
>I don't know.
>There's something else to consider, too. Reisen says as she pulls out to overtake a fully-loaded station wagon. The kids in the back wave at you as you drive past, a gesture you return. If they know there we're the magical girls fighting these evils, at least Nitori and Letty are going to want to fight with us well. I'm not as sure about Minoriko. Now, I'm actually fine with that idea, but I think I know you well enough, Byakuren, that I think you'd rather not bring anymore people into this fight than you have to, right?
-
>I'd rather no one have to risk themselves in this conflict, but... truly, we're all at risk here, whether we fight or not. They've already seen the conflict on their doorstep, seen a friend lost to it. You know I would protect them all to my last breath, but do I really have the right to decide for them, whether or not they can fight? And... given how much rests on us succeeding - can we really afford to turn them down?
-
>I'd rather no one have to risk themselves in this conflict, but... truly, we're all at risk here, whether we fight or not. They've already seen the conflict on their doorstep, seen a friend lost to it. You know I would protect them all to my last breath, but do I really have the right to decide for them, whether or not they can fight? And... given how much rests on us succeeding - can we really afford to turn them down?
>Then I guess the question is, would they make good soldiers? Not everyone is meant to be a fighter, no matter how much they might want to be. Rin is going to be watching your back, and I know she's a good soldier. But do you think Letty or Nitori would be as good watching her back?
-
>From what we know of them, how do we expect they'd react, and how well do we think they'd manage if they decided to try and join us? Assuming they even had the requisite potential within them?
-
>From what we know of them, how do we expect they'd react, and how well do we think they'd manage if they decided to try and join us? Assuming they even had the requisite potential within them?
>Letty is a very serious person by nature. Perhaps moreso than was really good for someone her age, but that has given her a kind of maturity and dependability that is unique among your friends. To your knowledge, she's never been in a fight, but picturing her in a conflict situation, you can see her handling herself well. She is studious, analytical and creative. If she had the kind of power you do, you can see her providing useful analysis of your enemy and their powers and the situation in general. And that she would be able to do some interesting things with her powers, in whatever form they might come in. Apart from her embarrassment over receiving praise, she doesn't usually let her emotions get the best of her. You would trust her to watch your back against the Champions. And perhaps more tellingly, you would trust her to watch your Rin's back in the same scenario.
>Nitori, though, would not be watching anyone's back. She would almost certainly be the first one into battle, the first one to charge the enemy head-on. Despite her intelligence and creativity, Nitori is very impulsive and emotional. When something goes wrong with the machines she works on, she isn't the sort to stand back and observe and analyze as much as she is the sort to poke it to see what falls out and then try to start it. At least one of your group would almost always have to keep an eye on her, to make sure she doesn't go overboard, or get in over her head. Which, you have to admit, you can see happening very easily. With her on board, she would definitely become your initial source of offense in just about every situation you can think of, and she would never once abandon the field, but her impulsiveness and fiery temperament could be almost as much a liability as an asset.
-
>I'd trust Letty, but... I fear Nitori might be too... impulsive. Too reckless. Maybe you're right. Maybe it's better if she doesn't know. This is not a situation where we can afford to have people rushing in headlong and hoping it all works out anyway.
-
>I'd trust Letty, but... I fear Nitori might be too... impulsive. Too reckless. Maybe you're right. Maybe it's better if she doesn't know. This is not a situation where we can afford to have people rushing in headlong and hoping it all works out anyway.
>Reisen nods. That's what I was thinking as well.
>I don't know. Rin disagrees. I mean sure, she's fiery, but she ain't stupid.
-
>Stupid, no, but fiery alone could be dangerous with so many encounters poised on a knife's edge of conflict.
>Do you have any idea how you would explain all this if we didn't tell them everything? At least not yet?
-
>Stupid, no, but fiery alone could be dangerous with so many encounters poised on a knife's edge of conflict.
>Do you have any idea how you would explain all this if we didn't tell them everything? At least not yet?
>I can explain my own absence easily enough. Reisen replies confidantly. I wander off to try and catch up with Patchouli, but I gave up after I got to her home, so I took my bike here and came home. Explaining why you two weren't there.... That'll be a bit tricker. I can think of one good reason off the top of my head, but it's embarassing, and it wouldn't explain why you ended up in my bike with me.
-
>It would all be much easier to explain if there hadn't been a housewarming party going on at the time that surely we wouldn't just ditch to go shopping or something. Would be easy enough to say you passed us on the way back and gave us a lift home, while filling us in on what we'd 'missed'.
-
>It would all be much easier to explain if there hadn't been a housewarming party going on at the time that surely we wouldn't just ditch to go shopping or something. Would be easy enough to say you passed us on the way back and gave us a lift home, while filling us in on what we'd 'missed'.
>Why DID you leave that part, incidentally?
-
>I could sense a strange magical energy emanating from Patchouli and flowing towards the prison where we kept Water held, weakening its walls. At first, I just went back up to my room to try and figure out what it was and why it was happening; I would need to transform and concentrate deeply - not something you can easily do in the middle of a gathering. It was Patchouli's bond with the Champion of Water, of course, though at the time I still had no idea. In any case, I was working on this problem when I learned that the Air Champion was swiftly approaching our location, so Rin, Lily, and myself went to intercept her - to try and keep the fighting away from everyone else. We hadn't known what she was after at this point, either. She was... stronger than I'd expected. We did hurt her, but she hurt us, and delayed us enough to let her reach Sanae first. You saw what happened after that.
-
>I could sense a strange magical energy emanating from Patchouli and flowing towards the prison where we kept Water held, weakening its walls. At first, I just went back up to my room to try and figure out what it was and why it was happening; I would need to transform and concentrate deeply - not something you can easily do in the middle of a gathering. It was Patchouli's bond with the Champion of Water, of course, though at the time I still had no idea. In any case, I was working on this problem when I learned that the Air Champion was swiftly approaching our location, so Rin, Lily, and myself went to intercept her - to try and keep the fighting away from everyone else. We hadn't known what she was after at this point, either. She was... stronger than I'd expected. We did hurt her, but she hurt us, and delayed us enough to let her reach Sanae first. You saw what happened after that.
>Yeah. So, was she stronger than Patchouli was?
-
>Our impression of her was that she was, yes? Even considering the fact that we brought less firepower to that battle, and we never really fought it to its conclusion?
>Assuming so, I think so, yes. We had to join all our powers into a single attack to even scratch her.
-
>Our impression of her was that she was, yes? Even considering the fact that we brought less firepower to that battle, and we never really fought it to its conclusion?
>Assuming so, I think so, yes. We had to join all our powers into a single attack to even scratch her.
>She certainly seemed to possess more straightforward firepower than Patchouli, and seemed tougher to score hits on. Whether or not she has as much versatility or as much stamina, that you're not sure on.
>That was a hell of a shot, wasn't it. Rin says, a grin in her voice.
>I'll bet. Ah, here we go. Reisen says, braking her bike and making a left turn, ducking into the parking garage of a multi-story hotel, one that holds a decent number of vechicles, but not people in evidence. Reisen brings her bike to a halt behind a rather large pickup truck for extra cover. You hear anyone, Rin? she asks as she scans the place with her eyes.
>The kasha stands in your lap- careful, you suspect, not to put her paw down in a compromising place- and twitches her ears for a moment. No, nobody.
>I agree. Should be safe to change back.
-
>Let's change back
-
>Let's change back
>Rin has to hop off of you and revert to her humanoid form to change back to her 'civilian' form, while you can remain comfortably seated as you resume the life of simply Byakuren Hijiri. Poppy, though, seems slightly hesitant. "I just wish I had thought to grab a helmet before we left. It'll make getting home like this a bit slower." You can see why. Your sidecar has a windscreen attached to it, but the bike itself doesn't. Evidently that's not as big an issue for Magical Poppy as it is for Reisen Udongein. Nevertheless, the rabbit also resumes her normal form. "Maybe I'm still tired." she mutters.
>"By the way." she starts as Rin, once again, resumes her feline form and returns to her resting place in your lap. "Does our telepathy still work like this, or do we need to be transformed to use it?"
-
>It does! And I still have some access to the mystic senses I gained with my ring, when untransformed, though rather dulled. Something similar might be true for you.
-
>It does! And I still have some access to the mystic senses I gained with my ring, when untransformed, though rather dulled. Something similar might be true for you.
>That's convenient. she replies as she revs the bike's engine, setting off once more. I don't feel any different, though, no new powers.
>Give it some time. Rin says sportively. It's your first day with these powers.
>That it is. It wasn't any easier for you two your first time out, was it?
-
>Rin, at least, had the benefit of not gaining her powers in a moment of crisis. The night before last, I decided to explain to her the things that had been happening lately, and my ring reacted to her will on the spot. But nothing more strenuous happened that day than touring the city's shrines. When I gained my own, though, it was to fight something that very moment. You remember that 'gas leak' that happened at school, a little while back? That was no gas leak; a youma appeared and attacked those people, draining their lifeforce. I fought it off and purified it.
>Everyone else has actually handled their first transformation better than I did. I wasn't actually injured in that fight, but you saw how... exhausted I was afterward - and that youma's power was barely a drop compared to Patchouli's.
-
>Rin, at least, had the benefit of not gaining her powers in a moment of crisis. The night before last, I decided to explain to her the things that had been happening lately, and my ring reacted to her will on the spot. But nothing more strenuous happened that day than touring the city's shrines. When I gained my own, though, it was to fight something that very moment. You remember that 'gas leak' that happened at school, a little while back? That was no gas leak; a youma appeared and attacked those people, draining their lifeforce. I fought it off and purified it.
>Everyone else has actually handled their first transformation better than I did. I wasn't actually injured in that fight, but you saw how... exhausted I was afterward - and that youma's power was barely a drop compared to Patchouli's.
>That doesn't sound right. Reisen says, puzzled. Uh, not that I mean to doubt you, but... Well, how does that work? Or have you just gotten that much more powerful since then?
-
>I think I have. And I don't think I'm the only one of us that's gotten stronger, either. Though at least some of it was simply getting used to wielding these powers at all.
-
>I think I have. And I don't think I'm the only one of us that's gotten stronger, either. Though at least some of it was simply getting used to wielding these powers at all.
>And you got off to a great start yourself. Rin says to Reisen. You're the only one that can change outfit and powers like that, and you didn't seem to have a lotta trouble with it.
>I guess that's my unique thing. the rabbit says modestly. I've always been adaptable, and I guess my powers reflect that. With my Spectrum Shifts, I can change them according to the situation.
>How many of those do ya have?
>Six. That I know of, anyway. That might change, that might be how my powers grow. One thing I don't know is why I got Caster first when I transformed. I'll have to think about that.
-
>Six? What are the others, then?
-
>Six? What are the others, then?
>I'm not sure what the extent of their powers are, since I haven't tried them yet. But they are Rider, Minstrel and... Dancer. She hesitates a little before mentioning that last one.
-
>Oooo... how multi-talented. Does Rider come with something to ride?
-
>Oooo... how multi-talented. Does Rider come with something to ride?
>I won't know for sure until I try it on. If it does, though, whatever appears will vanish once I Shift out of Rider. I can't mix and match Spectrum abilities.
-
>Smile
>I look forward to seeing them. Hopefully under less desperate circumstances, this time.
-
>Smile
>I look forward to seeing them. Hopefully under less desperate circumstances, this time.
>Uh, I gotta question. Rin says, looking up at you. What's a 'minstrel'?
-
>It's sort of... someone who plays music and sings songs, often ones that tell stories. It's an old term; not one you'd normally hear used for a musician nowadays.
-
>It's sort of... someone who plays music and sings songs, often ones that tell stories. It's an old term; not one you'd normally hear used for a musician nowadays.
>So Reisen's got a rock star form?
-
>Laugh
>Well, I suppose we don't know what kind of music it plays without seeing it.
-
>Laugh
>Well, I suppose we don't know what kind of music it plays without seeing it.
>Which actually takes me back to something were talking about before we stopped. Reisen says. I've been thinking that we probably would be better off telling Letty and the others about us. For one, we'd be able to transform and train at home without having to sneak away all the time for it, or for missions.
-
>That's certainly an advantage. And not having to make up new stories for each time we might need to vanish in an emergency....
-
>That's certainly an advantage. And not having to make up new stories for each time we might need to vanish in an emergency....
>That's actually another point I was thinking about. Sooner or later, one of us is going to get into a situation where we won't be able to stick to the same story, or come up with a good lie. Especially, if I may say so, you, Byakuren. She gives you a slight smile. You're good at a lot of things, but lying really isn't one of them. You might be able to fool Nitori, but I don't think you'd really be able to pull the wool over Minoriko or Letty's eyes for very long. And I think that dog of hers would sniff you out sooner than either one of them, as well.
>She pauses to consider as she pulls up to a red light. Actually now that I think about, I may have to reconsider that. After all, you've gone this long without us finding out. You never even made me suspect something was up. And I even helped you, didn't I? When you were visiting the shrines the other day.
-
>Yes. That wasn't directly related to the Champions, but it was still 'Lotus business'. Did you catch the footage of us on the news this morning?
-
>Yes. That wasn't directly related to the Champions, but it was still 'Lotus business'. Did you catch the footage of us on the news this morning?
>No, I didn't have the radio on today.
-
>...the radio?
-
>...the radio?
>I listen to the radio more than I watch TV. Reisen explains.
-
>Well, perhaps, but you certainly couldn't have seen us on it to recognize us. In any case, it was a complicated situation, so you finish your point before I try to fill you in on what happened.
-
>Well, perhaps, but you certainly couldn't have seen us on it to recognize us. In any case, it was a complicated situation, so you finish your point before I try to fill you in on what happened.
>My point? About the radio?
-
>No, no, I thought you were going somewhere before the shrines came up.
-
>No, no, I thought you were going somewhere before the shrines came up.
>Oh yeah, about how you're a better liar than I thought? Then she winces. I'm sorry, that's not what I meant.
-
>Chuckle slightly
>No, it's quite alright.
-
>Chuckle slightly
>No, it's quite alright.
>Maybe it's because no one would ever think you're not being entirely honest with them. Reisen speculates. Everyone that knows you, or knows your reputation, sees you as honest and wise, not the sort to string someone along or willingly deceive. I suppose you don't really need to be a great liar, if people never suspect you'd lie at all.
-
>I'd really rather not, of course - especially to people I care about. I know sometimes, in this role, it may be necessary, but I don't like it.
-
>I'd really rather not, of course - especially to people I care about. I know sometimes, in this role, it may be necessary, but I don't like it.
>And maintaining that lie's only going to get harder and harder, the longer this conflict drags on. At least to the people we see on a daily basis.
-
>I know, I know. And I feel we owe it to them for what they've already seen, but I still worry.
-
>I know, I know. And I feel we owe it to them for what they've already seen, but I still worry.
>I can understand that. Ultimately, Byakuren, it's your decision. Rin and I will follow whatever decision you make.
-
>Do we really think Nitori's hotheadedness could cause her to rush into serious danger, or drag the rest of us into it to protect her? Do we think she could risk sparking conflicts we might have been trying to avoid or talk our way out of?
>How long/well have we known her, anyway?
-
>Do we really think Nitori's hotheadedness could cause her to rush into serious danger, or drag the rest of us into it to protect her? Do we think she could risk sparking conflicts we might have been trying to avoid or talk our way out of?
>How long/well have we known her, anyway?
>You've only really known her since you moved into Moonside. Prior to that, you knew her only by her reputation as an erratic but talented mechanic.
>Rin is correct when she says that Nitori can be reckless but she isn't stupid. If presented with, for example, the Fire Champion, her first instinct would in all likelihood be to charge it once she knew what he was like. But when confronting something like that Titan you fought yesterday, you don't think she'd charge blindly forward automatically. From what you know of her, she wouldn't be as hostile towards the Champions as Kiku is, but she might very well take the fight to them just as quickly. Except maybe for the Ice Champion.
>You might not need to protect her as much as you might think, either. As a Kappa, Nitori possesses a level of stamina and resistance to harm superior to that of humans. The Light power that you wield would, in all likelihood, enhance that stamina even farther. If you were able to recruit Nitori, she could very well turn out to be the toughest of all of you. She may put herself in positions where she'd absorb more damage than the rest of you, but she'd be able to take it. The pragmatic part of you can see the advantages of this. If playing all the RPGs you have has taught you anything, it's that having a solid tank can be vital, and for right now, that is actually something you've been lacking. Unless you count yourself.
>But as for Nitori making talking your way out of a potential fight a bit more difficult, you have to admit that yes, this is the most likely outcome. However, it can't be any more of a task than keeping Kiku controlled, and you've done a fairly good job of that so far. Nitori may be impulsive, but she's not violent by nature.
-
>If only the future was easier to foresee.
>Let out a heavy breath
>I'm going to tell them. What happens afterward, I'll do my best to deal with then.
-
>If only the future was easier to foresee.
>Let out a heavy breath
>I'm going to tell them. What happens afterward, I'll do my best to deal with then.
>Ain't it 'we'? Rin asks lightly.
-
>Smile
>You're right, of course; we're all in this together. Thank you both for that.
-
>Smile
>You're right, of course; we're all in this together. Thank you both for that.
>Well, now that that's settled, can I ask about something else I've been wondering about? Reisen inquires.
-
>Yes, of course.
-
>Yes, of course.
>What about Reimu-san? She was there, too, she's going to want to know what this was all about.
-
>We're not nearly as close to her, right?
-
>We're not nearly as close to her, right?
>You consider her a friend, but no, you're not as close to her as your neighbors.
-
>Oh. Right.
>Pause
>Well, she can still get the explanation from Lotus, at the very least. And I still need to track down Kanako and Suwako, since they know something about what happened to Sanae.
-
>Oh. Right.
>Pause
>Well, she can still get the explanation from Lotus, at the very least. And I still need to track down Kanako and Suwako, since they know something about what happened to Sanae.
>Well, it's just... Reisen starts, sounding a touch nervous. I was concerned that, since Patchouli's... Well, left, that Reimu might decide that her apartment would be for rent again. And then I'd need somewhere else to stay.
-
>Particularly under these circumstances, I cannot imagine she'd be so callous as to evict you.
>But for that matter, how was the apartment paid for? Post-dated cheques?
-
>Particularly under these circumstances, I cannot imagine she'd be so callous as to evict you.
>But for that matter, how was the apartment paid for? Post-dated cheques?
>I'd like to think so. But I also don't know for sure. I mean, technically, I can't hold the apartment myself, I'm a slave. At least I don't think so, maybe she'd make an exception. But again, I can't say for sure.
>I'm not sure, but I think so. Master Knowledge was handling finances until Patchy and I were more financially secure. But I don't know how much longer the rent's paid up for.
-
>Well, there's always enough room in my bed for three....
>I imagine it wasn't month-to-month - that's more trouble for everyone. And the apartment doesn't need to be in your name for you to stay there, after all - it wasn't before. Patchouli is just... away on business; there's no reason to assume she's kicked you out. We'll figure something out with Reimu, don't worry.