Maribel Quest Continuation: A Z-Machine Adventure

[Kilgamayan]

> "Wait, what? There's more than one? The one I know looks like this:"
> Describe Renko's new outfit.

Bed. Draco, you're up. You know what to do. <3

[Hello Purvis]

>"What other one?"

>The ribboned faerie frowns. "She's...uh...the one with no hat. And the tie. And those bat wings. That one."

> "Wait, what? There's more than one? The one I know looks like this:"
> Describe Renko's new outfit.

>"Oh, she's okay," says the ribboned faerie.
>"Told you," says the blue-haired faerie.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"Bat wings? Who's she? Do you know her name?"

[Hello Purvis]

>"Bat wings? Who's she? Do you know her name?"

>The ribboned faerie shakes her head fast enough to send water flying everywhere.
>"But she comes on really strong," the blue-haired faerie says.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"Wait, does she have red hair? Little bat wings on her head, too?"

[Hello Purvis]

>"Wait, does she have red hair? Little bat wings on her head, too?"

>"Yeah! That one!" says the Blue-haired faerie.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"Yeah, I think I saw her once. How's she a jerk, anyway? I never really saw her say or do anything."

[Hello Purvis]

>"Yeah, I think I saw her once. How's she a jerk, anyway? I never really saw her say or do anything."

>"She's creepy!" says the ribboned faerie!
>"And she corners you and says weird things." adds the other, frowning.
>"It's a good thing we don't see her often..."

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"Oh, speaking of people, do either of you know Kogasa? Teal hair, giant purple umbrella? And if you do, do you have any idea where she lives?"

[Hello Purvis]

>"Oh, speaking of people, do either of you know Kogasa? Teal hair, giant purple umbrella? And if you do, do you have any idea where she lives?"

>"She lives that way," says the Ribboned faerie, pointing southwest. "She's a big silly. And the best!"

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"So I heard."
>Smile
>"Thanks! You guys have a good day, now."
>Head off in the indicated direction

[Hello Purvis]

>"So I heard."
>Smile
>"Thanks! You guys have a good day, now."
>Head off in the indicated direction

>"You too!" says the ribboned faerie. Then after a moment, cries. "Wait! We were caught! Run!"
>You head southward, as the two faeries flee downstream, floating over it yourself.
>Mushrooms begin to proliferate as you move onward into a darker part of the forest. To the east, you see it lighten again, and you think in the distance you see what looks like a bed frame, while to the west it continues to be dark and rather gloomy. Obvious exits are East, West, and North.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>Head east

[Hello Purvis]

>Head east

>You head east, leaving the thicker part of the forest behind.
>Soon, you see a house come into view, surrounded by dressers, tables, cabinets, and other large items. To the north, the trees clear up a bit. You...are reasonably certain this is Kourindou.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>Head west, and then west again, past our previous location

[Hello Purvis]

>Head west, and then west again, past our previous location

>You backtrack back to where you were, then continue westward from there.
>The forest is still thick and mushroom-laden; not nearly to the point of the grove that Tokiko showed you earlier, but enough that you could probably find a few more of those mushrooms Marisa sent you after if you looked hard enough. The underbrush remains fairly light. Up ahead, you see a tall, thin house that reminds you of Mystia's home in design. Tree boughs protrude from it at odd angles; it takes you a moment to realize that it is actually built around a tree trunk. The narrowness of it makes you think of the homes you saw in Tengu town. Obvious exits are East, West, and South.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>Get closer to the house and take a look around. Does anyone seem to be in at the moment?

[Hello Purvis]

>Get closer to the house and take a look around. Does anyone seem to be in at the moment?

>You get closer to the house and try to peek through the windows at a discreet distance.
>Everything suddenly goes black, as some thing fairly large and light falls over you.
>"Urameshiya!"

>_

[DracoOmega]

>Try not to jump
>"Hello, Kogasa."
>Does this thing over us seem like it could be an umbrella?
>And does it seem like it might have been the same thing that made it go dark last time?

[Hello Purvis]

>Try not to jump
>"Hello, Kogasa."
>Does this thing over us seem like it could be an umbrella?
>And does it seem like it might have been the same thing that made it go dark last time?

>You try not to jump. It's really hard, but you were somewhat expecting this.
>"...What? No! You have to be surprised! I did it perfectly right!"
>It feels more like a blanket, you think. You're pretty sure she dropped a blanket on you.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"You actually did a great job. Honestly. If I hadn't known that was your house over there, this would have caught me completely off-guard."
>"Besides, you already scared the living daylights out of me once today."
>Take the blanket off

[Hello Purvis]

>"You actually did a great job. Honestly. If I hadn't known that was your house over there, this would have caught me completely off-guard."
>"Besides, you already scared the living daylights out of me once today."
>Take the blanket off

>You offer her some condolences. "Oh...I should have anticipated your strengths better."
>"I scared you? For real? Great!"
>You take the blanket off. You can see a teal-haired woman in a light teal dress sitting on a tree branch above you, holding a purple umbrella. The umbrella, you note, has an eye, staring at nothing, and a mouth with a huge tongue lolling from it.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"Don't you remember? On the way to Kourindou. ....did that umbrella lick me, then? There was wet stuff all over my face."

[Hello Purvis]

>"Don't you remember? On the way to Kourindou. ....did that umbrella lick me, then? There was wet stuff all over my face."

>"Oh, no!" says Kogasa, "That was some konnyaku I warmed up in the sun! And yay! That was one of my best, I think. I followed all the rules."

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"Well, it was certainly effective. ...and there are rules for this? What are they?"

[Hello Purvis]

>"Well, it was certainly effective. ...and there are rules for this? What are they?"

>"Yep!" says Kogasa. "'Speed is the essence of  war,', 'All warfare is based on deception', and so on!"

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"You're... using Sun Tzu as a guide for scaring people?"
>"Where'd you even learn those from?"

[Hello Purvis]

>"You're... using Sun Tzu as a guide for scaring people?"
>"Where'd you even learn those from?"

>"Sure a-" she starts, then her eyes widen for a moment before she gives you a glare. "Wait, how'd you know!?"
>"I asked you first!"

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"Well... I wouldn't say that I'd actually read the original, but I recognize the gist of it. Bits and pieces of it come up now and again, where I come from."

[Hello Purvis]

>"Well... I wouldn't say that I'd actually read the original, but I recognize the gist of it. Bits and pieces of it come up now and again, where I come from."

>"Oh. Really?" She frowns, glancing downward. "I thought I was the only know who knew about that."

>_