Maribel Quest - A Z-Machine Adventure

[Hello Purvis]

>You continue northward, flying over the temple, and past the fields.
>While you don't know much about farming, the people below scurrying through the fields make you think they must be harvesting something. Or maybe they're weeding? You can't really tell. Further ahead, you can see an empty grassland to the northwest, and what seems to be a hill covered in flowers to the northeast.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>Keep following the road, until it ends

[Hello Purvis]

>Keep following the road, until it ends

>You keep flying northward.
>In the field, you think you see someone moving; at least that splash of purple probably doesn't belong there. To the east, you can see the land become hilly. There seem to be many flowers dotting it, and something red. Is that a person?
>Up ahead, you can see the grassland to the west give way to a huge field of flowers. The hills to the northeast as covered with them, too, but not so thickly. You think you can see the road fading out in the far distance.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>Can we see the river at all from here?
>In any case, keep heading northward

[Hello Purvis]

>Can we see the river at all from here?
>In any case, keep heading northward

>You cannot.
>You keep going northward.  The flower field to the west adds a great deal of color to the landscape, while the field to the west adds a more reserved tone. Up ahead, you can see the road fade away into another forest.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>Can we see the road emerge from the other side of the woods at any point?
>Are we confident enough in our sense of direction to keep going north without this landmark?
>Otherwise land, and follow the road into the forest

[Hello Purvis]

>Can we see the road emerge from the other side of the woods at any point?
>Are we confident enough in our sense of direction to keep going north without this landmark?
>Otherwise land, and follow the road into the forest

>You do not see it emerging from the other side of the woods.
>You think you should be able to keep due north, at least roughly, as long as you don't do anything to turn yourself around.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>Keep flying north, then

[Hello Purvis]

>Keep flying north, then

>You keep going, and pass over the forest.  Soon, you come to another plain, this one dotted with flowers as well. In the distance, you can see a river.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>Yay, a river at last!
>Fly towards it, and land on the bank closest to us, particularly at any point where we can see people.
>Ponder whether flying across the river of the dead would be a really, really bad thing.

[Serela]

>Ponder whether flying across the river of the dead would be a really, really bad thing.

>Well, it may result in death, for one.

[Hello Purvis]

>Yay, a river at last!
>Fly towards it, and land on the bank closest to us, particularly at any point where we can see people.
>Ponder whether flying across the river of the dead would be a really, really bad thing.

>Finally!
>You fly toward it, zooming over the plains, and land near the banks. Not too far away, you can see a dock with some trees near it.
>You can't imagine it hasn't been thought of.

>Well, it may result in death, for one.

>That seems likely.

>_

>_

[DracoOmega]

>Walk towards the dock.
>Can we see anyone?

[Hello Purvis]

>Walk towards the dock.
>Can we see anyone?

>You make your way toward the dock. It is just a simple pier, extending into the river. The wood looks old and doesn't bear any sign of paint or sealant. At the same time, it seems rather sturdy. More antique than decrepit.
>Nearly, you see a tall-looking red-haired woman laying on her side near a tree, her head cradled in her hands and curled into a little ball. She wears a white dress with a blue vest over top of it. As far as you can tell, she's sound asleep.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>Walk closer
>"Excuse me?"

[Hello Purvis]

>Walk closer
>"Excuse me?"

>You walk closer. She doesn't seem not notice, nor respond to your voice.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>We weren't actually given a physical description of Komachi, were we?
>Well, she seems likely enough, so... shake her on the shoulder and try to wake her up

[Hello Purvis]

>We weren't actually given a physical description of Komachi, were we?
>Well, she seems likely enough, so... shake her on the shoulder and try to wake her up

>Reimu described her as a tall pretty girl with red hair, and assured you you'd like her.
>"Go 'way," she mutters, "S'all ocean now."

>_

[Kasu]

> Keep shaking her shoulder.

[DracoOmega]

>"Hey, Reimu's annoyed with you, you know."

[Hello Purvis]

> Keep shaking her shoulder.

>"N'now, Eiki, I'm tired," she mutters

>"Hey, Reimu's annoyed with you, you know."

>"S'not my fault it's gone..." she says.

>_

[Serela]

>Well, Reimu DID say...
>Give her a swift kick to the rear.
>"Hey! Wake up!"

[DracoOmega]

>"Not your fault what's gone?"
>Shake her more vigorously
>If that doesn't seem to rouse her at all, maybe she should interpret Reimu's directive to kick her more literally...

[Hello Purvis]

>"Not your fault what's gone?"
>Shake her more vigorously
>If that doesn't seem to rouse her at all, maybe she should interpret Reimu's directive to kick her more literally...

>Well, Reimu DID say...
>Give her a swift kick to the rear.
>"Hey! Wake up!"

>"Th' land," she mumbles.
>You give her a few shakes, then finally a kick.
>"Oi!" she cries, squirming away from you. "Knock it off! That's valuable merchandise! Geez, what'd I ever do to you..."

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"Sorry, just following instructions. You going to stay awake now, or do I have to kick you again?"

[Hello Purvis]

>"Sorry, just following instructions. You going to stay awake now, or do I have to kick you again?"

>She sits up, scratching her head. "Not like it's going make a bit of difference, the whole thing's-"
>She gestures toward the south.
>"-well would you look at that? It's back."

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"What's back? I don't suppose you could give me an explanation I can actually understand?"

[Serela]

>"Hmm... you didn't have a strange dream about being in a different Gensokyo, did you?"
>"Anyway, Reimu wanted me to give you a kick for slacking off. She said there was some strange flowers around."

[Hello Purvis]

>"What's back? I don't suppose you could give me an explanation I can actually understand?"

>"All that turned into an ocean for awhile," says Komachi, frowning toward the south.

>"Hmm... you didn't have a strange dream about being in a different Gensokyo, did you?"
>"Anyway, Reimu wanted me to give you a kick for slacking off. She said there was some strange flowers around."

>"Nope, I was just resting up," she says. "Now you're talking about things I don't understand.
>"Oh, she's back? Well...guess it's time."

>_

[Serela]

Well, that explains things. Not that Maribel understands. Which is slightly strange to deal with.

>"Hmm, that's interesting. Well, as long as you're working again, Reimu should be satisfied."