Seija Quest

[Tom]

> Are we still channeling the mallet energy?

> Yes but you don't think it'll be able to provide energy much longer

[Kilgamayan]

> Can we use the mallet to increase our own energy supply?

[Tom]

> Can we use the mallet to increase our own energy supply?

> Certainly, but it'll revert just like Shinmyumaru's size if it runs out of energy (You're kind of doing that right now)

[Kilgamayan]

> Stop trying the inversion.
> "Grah...it's not working..."

[Tom]

> Stop trying the inversion.

> You stop the inversion, however you learned that whatever that thread lead to must have been impossible or impractical to invert?

> "Grah...it's not working..."

>  Shinmyoumaru tilts her head "Huh what's not working?"

[Kilgamayan]

> "I'm trying to switch my current size with multiple other things at once. I need to look further into this...I might have an idea. Sorry in advance for what I'm about to do."
> Switch our size and Shinmyoumaru's size back so they are how they normally are.

[Tom]

> "I'm trying to switch my current size with multiple other things at once. I need to look further into this...I might have an idea. Sorry in advance for what I'm about to do."

> Her eyes widen in surprise "Huh?"

> Switch our size and Shinmyoumaru's size back so they are how they normally are.

> You channel the mallet's energy to invert your size with Shinmyoumaru and quickly find the weakpoint.  Immediately upon shattering it you become your normal size again and Shinmyoumaru reverts to her inchling size while your locations also switch, with her sitting on your shoulder and you standing where she was.

> The mallet seems to also have regained some energy...?  Perhaps this reverse switch can be considered as it extracting it's price?

[Kilgamayan]

> Oho, interesting...good to know we have continued resources, at least.
> "All right. Stay close to me, and don't worry. This won't take very long."
> Place Shinmyoumaru on the ground next to us.
> Then prepare the size inversion once again, so that we and she switch sizes. Before we actually perform it, though, see if we can determine what aspect of it previously caused us to also switch locations.

[Tom]

> Oho, interesting...good to know we have continued resources, at least.
> "All right. Stay close to me, and don't worry. This won't take very long."

> She hesitates a little but agrees "O-Okay I trust you"

> Place Shinmyoumaru on the ground next to us.
> Then prepare the size inversion once again, so that we and she switch sizes. Before we actually perform it, though, see if we can determine what aspect of it previously caused us to also switch locations.

> You place Shinmyoumaru on the ground and try the inversion again this time a little slower so you're more observant during the process.  You channel energy as usual and slow down once the weak point appears so that you can 'observe' what's happening.  With the cracks progressing slower you're able notice what feels like an 'echo' after each crack, as if there's a second 'pane of glass' cracking in sync but out of focus somehow?

[Kilgamayan]

> Are we able to locate the part that corresponds to a location switch? Or is it all too abstract for that?

[Tom]

> Are we able to locate the part that corresponds to a location switch? Or is it all too abstract for that?

> You continue focusing on the 'second pane' and manage to clarify it a little.  It actually feels like two parts breaking in sync, thus giving the initial impression of one!  You wonder what these additional parts actually define...  Are these interlocked weakpoints what makes inverting someone's size so difficult as to need the mallet's assistance?

[Kilgamayan]

> Try breaking just one of them. If we can, pick the one corresponding to the first plane.

[Tom]

> Try breaking just one of them. If we can, pick the one corresponding to the first plane.

> You try to break one of them but the primary one ends up shattering instead.  You ponder if you should have abandoned that inversion and started over with location as the primary objective?

> You're now small and on the ground where Shinmyoumaru was and she's standing where you were just moments ago at your normal size.

> Shimyoumaru looks around confused as she readjusts to her surroundings

[Kilgamayan]

> Grunt in irritation.
> Undo that inversion. Then try starting over with location as the primary objective instead, as we considered. See what our other options are in that process.

[Tom]

> Grunt in irritation.
> Undo that inversion. Then try starting over with location as the primary objective instead, as we considered. See what our other options are in that process.

> You quickly undo that inversion, swapping sizes and locations with Shinmyoumaru once again.

> Once at your normal size again you try inverting your locations very slowly and notice the double echo after each crack once more.  This time however you manage to identify one of the 'out of focus' glass panes as the the inversion you were previously working on, specifically your sizes.  The third one however still remains a mystery, what else could be 'interlocked' with your size and location?

[Kilgamayan]

> Could it be mallet energy use, perhaps?

[Tom]

> Could it be mallet energy use, perhaps?

> You consider that as a possibility but doubt it, your intuition is telling you it's also related with your size and position somehow since it was breaking in sync with them. You ponder what else might have changed when you swapped sizes with little Shinmyoumaru.

> As you ponder the weak point shatters and your size and position is swapped once more with you becoming small and the inchling becoming big.

> Now facing towards the Hakurei Shrine you notice additional lanterns are light up, perhaps some more guests arrived?

[Kilgamayan]

> Undo that inversion.
> Then prepare the size inversion with Shinmyoumaru again, but focus on the third variable. Could it be that are we are swapping our possessions?

[Tom]

> Undo that inversion.
> Then prepare the size inversion with Shinmyoumaru again, but focus on the third variable. Could it be that are we are swapping our possessions?

> You undo the inversion once more to focus on the third part.  Shinmyoumaru is getting visibly disoriented at this point

> You try and simply invert your sizes but this time you recognize the weak point that affects your location allowing you to ignore it and focus on the last one.  Now with all your attention on it you notice a very peculiar property of it's structure, specifically that cracks always form in pairs on the opposite sides of the weak point.  For example every crack on the top of the weak point there's a matching break at the bottom of it.

[Kilgamayan]

> Would it be possible to shatter just that third variable, leaving the other two alone, and then shatter just the size inversion variable?

[Tom]

> Would it be possible to shatter just that third variable, leaving the other two alone, and then shatter just the size inversion variable?

> Judging from what you've seen so far no, they're interlocked meaning breaking one breaks all three.  Additionally while you're able to sense the other weakpoints you've only been able to break the one you started focusing on from the beginning.

> This short experimentation session has been quite interesting though as until now you've never really focused on the process itself instead of the results.  The mere existence of interlocked weakpoints and symmetrical breaking patterns is astonishing!  If only there was some literature or someone you could ask about such 'linked phenomena'...  though you'd have to be careful on how you word such questions as to not sound suspicious or reveal the extent of your abilities and your species...

[Kilgamayan]

> Based on how they are interlocked, do we think we could separate them?

[Tom]

> Based on how they are interlocked, do we think we could separate them?

> You aren't aware of a method to do so.  Maybe it's something worth asking about or researching?

> Little Shinmyoumaru tells you "We shouldn't be late!" then she looks a little embarrassed and hesitates before asking you "I-It's a lot to ask but, could I be big during the festival, Seija?"

[Kilgamayan]

> "Huh? Uh, sure, yeah, just gimme a moment."
> So we are not presently aware of any way to separate the location switch effect from the size switch effect?

[Tom]

> "Huh? Uh, sure, yeah, just gimme a moment."

> "O-okay"

> So we are not presently aware of any way to separate the location switch effect from the size switch effect?

> No but it's something worth investigating or asking about

[Kilgamayan]

> When we most recently became small and ended up noticing the shrine festivities getting further underway, were we looking in a different direction when we were big just before that switch?

[Tom]

> When we most recently became small and ended up noticing the shrine festivities getting further underway, were we looking in a different direction when we were big just before that switch?

> Yes, Shinmyoumaru was looking at you (and by extension behind you).

[Kilgamayan]

> Try setting up the size inversion between Shinmyoumaru and ourselves one last time, but this time, while preparing it, check to see if the third variable might be orientation.

[Tom]

> Try setting up the size inversion between Shinmyoumaru and ourselves one last time, but this time, while preparing it, check to see if the third variable might be orientation.

> You prepare the inversion once more, this time focusing on orientation and a weakpoint appears!  Furthermore it exhibits the same oddly symmetrical breaking pattern, confirming it's identity as the previously unknown third variable.

[Kilgamayan]

> And there are no other variables? There is just size, location, and orientation?
> Now that we've identified orientation, does it now appear possible to separate one of these variables from the other two?