Maribel Quest Continuation: A Z-Machine Adventure

[Kilgamayan]

> Renko kinda knows who Reimu is, though. Yukari may be worth explaining, though I was holding off because of her desire for fame potentially agitating her when we told her we apparently look like this super-powerful youkai.

[Hello Purvis]

> Ran is heading towards the "abandoned" house, right?
> And we know that Ran is Yukari's shikigami, right?
> Considering that neither we nor Renko have had any interaction with her, perhaps it would be best to observe her a little more and see if she actually heads into the house.

>She is walking down the road toward the Forest, southward. The house is more to the southwest.
>You do know she has a connection to Yukari of some kind, and is apparently very loyal.
>You could do this. So far, she seems to be walking down the road.

>Didn't Reimu tell us where Yukari lives, though?
>We should also explain her to Renko. And Yukari, if she missed that part.

>Reimu told you she lives somewhere along the road to Youkai Mountain.
>This may not be a bad idea.

> Renko kinda knows who Reimu is, though. Yukari may be worth explaining, though I was holding off because of her desire for fame potentially agitating her when we told her we apparently look like this super-powerful youkai.

>She's shown some vague knowledge of the Shrine Maiden, at least.

>_

[Rin Kagamine]

> "Renko, have you heard anything about a youkai named Yukari?  Apparently when I'm wearing my normal dress and hat I bear a more-than-striking resemblance to her.  Ran down there is apparently quite loyal to her.  Yukari is also rumored to be quite powerful, one of the most powerful in Gensokyo if I'm not mistaken.  Several people today have already mistaken me for her.  I've also heard from Reimu that she's the best person to talk to with about matters concerning returning home, but I'm not looking for answers to those questions right now.  I also don't really know how she's going to react to someone who looks like her."
> "Oh, I should mention Reimu as well.  She seems to watch over the Hakurei Border, which keeps our world separate from Gensokyo, and she's also the one that taught me how to make a barrier."

[Hello Purvis]

> "Renko, have you heard anything about a youkai named Yukari?  Apparently when I'm wearing my normal dress and hat I bear a more-than-striking resemblance to her.  Ran down there is apparently quite loyal to her.  Yukari is also rumored to be quite powerful, one of the most powerful in Gensokyo if I'm not mistaken.  Several people today have already mistaken me for her.  I've also heard from Reimu that she's the best person to talk to with about matters concerning returning home, but I'm not looking for answers to those questions right now.  I also don't really know how she's going to react to someone who looks like her."
> "Oh, I should mention Reimu as well.  She seems to watch over the Hakurei Border, which keeps our world separate from Gensokyo, and she's also the one that taught me how to make a barrier."

>"So," says Renko, "You look like a horribly powerful youkai, and that's her follower down there? Huh. So we'll keep out of her way, I guess."
>She nods as you describe Reimu.

>_

[Rin Kagamine]

> "Yeah, keeping out of her way for now is my goal, but I'm interested to see where she's going, if only to remember to avoid wherever she ends up."
> Examine Quests.

[Hello Purvis]

> "Yeah, keeping out of her way for now is my goal, but I'm interested to see where she's going, if only to remember to avoid wherever she ends up."
> Examine Quests.

>"Looks like she's going to the forest," says Renko. "Either she's going to that store, to visit someone who lives there, or hunting after something."
>Your Quests are:
>Renko Quest
>You've found Renko and seduced Renko! But, does this really quell burning ambition?
>Escape from Eastern Wonderland?
>At some point, you should probably try to go home. Right?
>Love is a Battlefield
>Your friend Utsuho in a bitter rivalry with Yuugi for the heart of Parsee Mizuhashi. You've managed to help them approach another solution.
>Maximum Charge Maribel Hearn
>Byakuren has offered to cast a spell to enhance your innate magic potential, if you gather the ingredients and prove yourself worthy. You've done the former, but you're not so certain about the latter.
>Clinic Catastophe
>Byakuren asked you to help Murasa run the clinic, and to make sure Murasa is doing her job. Kisume's bucket appeared there, but how?
>Bellow away!
>The town blacksmith's bellows are missing! She thinks they were stolen by faeries.
>Coy, is she?
>Utsuho has asked you to find Koishi, and try to help make amends.

>_

[UncertainJakutten]

> What happened to "Maid a Getaway"?
> View Completed Quests

[Hello Purvis]

> What happened to "Maid a Getaway"?
> View Completed Quests

>It was completed.
>Your Completed Quests are:
>Kick a Komachi
>You've gotten Komachi back to work!
>Pawned
>Yuugi asked you to figure out what is up with a certain pawn shop not making their payments.The problem was rats, and the solution was you.
>Hardflorale
>Yuka has recruited you to plant eight fire lilies around Gensokyo in places you feel are best, and paid you rather well for it.
>What watch?
>You have returned Sakuya her pocketwatch on Utsuho's behalf.
>Need a Nitori
>You've checked up on Nitori for Utsuho. She's doing fine.
>Maid a Getaway
>You've solved the mystery of the missing maids at Scarlet Devil Mansion, and have informed the proper authorities.
>Delivery Delving
>You've given Utsuho Nitori's letter.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Best avoid where she's going for the time being, unless we have to."
> Going to Marisa's would necessitate going down the same path Ran's going, wouldn't it?
> "Wanna go back to that abandoned house? If it's really abandoned...maybe we could make use of it."

[Hello Purvis]

> "Best avoid where she's going for the time being, unless we have to."
> Going to Marisa's would necessitate going down the same path Ran's going, wouldn't it?
> "Wanna go back to that abandoned house? If it's really abandoned...maybe we could make use of it."

>"Right," she says.
>You try to approach it from the air from a different direction.
>"What've you got in mind?" asks Renko. "But sure, let's go."

>_

[communist unity (comm-unity)]

> We're dressed differently than before, aren't we? We should be fine to pass by Ran unnoticed.

[Kilgamayan]

> "Well, we're completely new here, right? We came here with nothing at all other than a couple of acquaintances, and we've only been able to get where we are through the graces of others. If we're going to stay here, we really need, well, some place to stay, right?"
> Start heading toward the abandoned house.

We are dressed differently, but we've reason to suspect Ran might have seen us before in a passing glance (at Mystia's), and there's no need to jar her memory. It wouldn't be too hard to mentally put the hat back on top of our unchanged hair, anyway.

[Hello Purvis]

> We're dressed differently than before, aren't we? We should be fine to pass by Ran unnoticed.

>It does seem this way. But at the same time, she is a youkai...

> "Well, we're completely new here, right? We came here with nothing at all other than a couple of acquaintances, and we've only been able to get where we are through the graces of others. If we're going to stay here, we really need, well, some place to stay, right?"
> Start heading toward the abandoned house.

>She nods. "That is a good point, I suppose."
>You head toward the fallen house, leaving the fox youkai to go on her way, seemingly none the wiser that you were behind her.  It is a moderately short flight over the grassy field to get there.
>The house itself is a two-story building with a tiled roof. Compared to some of the homes you've seen today, it is downright luxurious. It seems reasonably intact, though the front door hangs open and it is direly in need of a coat of paint. The windows seem intact at least. The grass around it is quite tall. The Forest of Magic is to the south a little ways, reaching outward to come fairly close to the house. In the distance, you can also see the edge of the Bamboo Forest. Obvious exists are North, South, East, West 1 and West 2.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Peer into any visible windows for interesting things. People would have high priority.
> Ask Renko to do the same so we cover the house more quickly.

[Hello Purvis]

> Peer into any visible windows for interesting things. People would have high priority.
> Ask Renko to do the same so we cover the house more quickly.

>You look through the windows, and ask Renko to do the same.
>You see what looks like an old living room. It is terribly dusty. There are a couple wooden chairs that seem to be rather rickety, and a bookcase that has fallen over. The walls seem to be in in decent repair.
>"There's a kitchen over here," says Renko.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Follow to where she is and examine kitchen ourselves

[Hello Purvis]

> Follow to where she is and examine kitchen ourselves

>You walk over and look into the kitchen. It is quite dusty as well. You can see a long counter, beside a wood-burning stove and range. Numerous cabinets, hanging open, are empty save for cobwebs. You think you see a door hanging open that leads to a pantry as well.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Any windows on the second story? Or did we check those out already?
> "Well, it would need some cleaning, but it's a hell of a lot better than starting from scratch."

[Hello Purvis]

> Any windows on the second story? Or did we check those out already?
> "Well, it would need some cleaning, but it's a hell of a lot better than starting from scratch."

>There are some second story windows. You have yet to check them.
>"Yeah, but, isn't it kind of weird?"

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "A bit, yeah. Who would abandon a place like this? If it were fixed up, it'd be really nice. And how has it preserved so well? Did everyone else just ignore it?"

[Hello Purvis]

> "A bit, yeah. Who would abandon a place like this? If it were fixed up, it'd be really nice. And how has it preserved so well? Did everyone else just ignore it?"

>"I don't know," says Renko. "It looks like there's been some looting, at least."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Hmm, there does, yeah. Wonder who did it?"
> "Let's check out the second story windows, see what else is in this place. Maybe we'll find a clue about what happened here."
> Check out the second story windows, see what else is in this place. Maybe we'll find a clue about what happened here.

[Hello Purvis]

> "Hmm, there does, yeah. Wonder who did it?"
> "Let's check out the second story windows, see what else is in this place. Maybe we'll find a clue about what happened here."
> Check out the second story windows, see what else is in this place. Maybe we'll find a clue about what happened here.

>"No idea," says Renko. "Relatives? Former friends? Creditors?"
>You hover up to the second story windows. One of them has some old, ratty curtains closed over it. The other reveals a dusty, empty old room. You think it's meant to be a bedroom.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "This place looks like a question for Marisa. She lives near enough by that she might know a few things."
> "Heh, our first investigation in our new homeland."
> "Anyway, is there anything else you'd like to look at here? If not, let's go see Marisa. We'll definitely be coming back here later."
> If Renko does not want to stick around, head toward Marisa's house.

[Hello Purvis]

> "This place looks like a question for Marisa. She lives near enough by that she might know a few things."
> "Heh, our first investigation in our new homeland."
> "Anyway, is there anything else you'd like to look at here? If not, let's go see Marisa. We'll definitely be coming back here later."
> If Renko does not want to stick around, head toward Marisa's house.

>"Maybe," Renko says. "Or maybe we could answer the question ourselves?"

>_

[Kasu]

> Head inside the house via front door.
> Look around.

[E-Nazrin]

>Is breaking and entering our usual modus operandi?
>Then again, it looks pretty thoroughly uninhabited, so...
>"Yeah, might as well look. Hopefully we won't be pissing anybody off."

[Hello Purvis]

>Is breaking and entering our usual modus operandi?
>Then again, it looks pretty thoroughly uninhabited, so...
>"Yeah, might as well look. Hopefully we won't be pissing anybody off."

>You've not had to do it before. But you know that if you and Renko encountered a fenced off area in the course of an investigation, you didn't feel much doubt about climbing over it.
>That it does.
>She grins.

> Head inside the house via front door.
> Look around.

>You open the front door, and walk into what looks like the living room. You can see the chairs from before, as well as the fallen-over bookshelf. There's a lot of dust here, and a distinctive lack of anything other than those chairs and that shelf. There is a large doorway to the side that leads toward the kitchen, and another that leaves further in toward a room you've not seen seen yet. Obvious exits are East, West, and North.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Hey, there's somewhere new."
> Enter room we didn't see through windows.

[Hello Purvis]

> "Hey, there's somewhere new."
> Enter room we didn't see through windows.

>You head west.
>You enter into a small a hallway. To the north, you can see a staircase leading up to the second floor. On your left, to the south, is an empty closet. Up ahead, you can see a new room. You've kicked up a fair amount of dust, causing you to sneeze. Renko covers her mouth and nose with a hand. Obvious Exits are North, East, and West.