Seija Quest

[Tom]

> "Mmm...why not try to take one, maybe?"

> They all look at each other expectantly before turning towards Sakuya

> "I-I see..."
> Hesitantly she picks up a card and gets up to leave when something on the card gets her attention
> When she holds up the card you all see there's some glowing symbols on it, specifically 5 flames; one near each corner and one in the center.

> As you're looking at the card one flame disappears...

[Kilgamayan]

> "Oh, that didn't happen before, I don't think..."

[Tom]

> "Oh, that didn't happen before, I don't think..."

> "Five flames? Is that a hinting who's card this is?" the maid remarks
> The librarian gets up to inspect the card closer

> In the meantime another flame disappears...

[Kilgamayan]

> "Maybe? Or maybe it's some sort of warning...?"

[Tom]

> "Maybe? Or maybe it's some sort of warning...?"

> Remilia takes a look around and remarks "A warning to what? I don't see that doll anywhere?"

> Upon hearig your remark Patchouli gives you a worried look as another flame disappears

[Kilgamayan]

> Shrug.
> "Iuno. I just know that that looks like it's counting down something, and that it didn't do that earlier."

[Tom]

> Shrug.
> "Iuno. I just know that that looks like it's counting down something, and that it didn't do that earlier."

> Remilia rolls her eyes in doubt
> Sakuya dismisses the idea as the second to last flame disappears

> To everyone's surprise Patchouli leaps and knocks the card away from Sakuya's hand after which it burst into flames!
> While it nearly singed her hand it surpisingly left the card unharmed!

> As the flames die down a familiar voice asks "You noticed it didn't you?  The fireproof paper, it's the same kind you use in your *little* big library!"
> Jokingly it continues "Knowledgeable as ever miss *Knowledge* but hopelessly indecisive..."
> That seems to have hit a nerve as Patchouli fidgets with something in her pocket

> After looking around for the source of the voice you find the doll perched up on the roof of the Hakurei Shrine holding a mini sake dish and seemingly enjoying the sights

[Kilgamayan]

> "Oh. Hey, how come it didn't do that before?"

[Tom]

> "Oh. Hey, how come it didn't do that before?"

> The doll laughs "Well it it would have been unfair if you weren't warned not to take them!?"
> It then takes a pretend swig out of it's mini sake dish

[Kilgamayan]

> "It was someone else this time, though..."
> Has Patchouli found whatever she's looking for yet?

[Tom]

> "It was someone else this time, though..."

> The doll tilts it's head while looking at you "Wasn't it your idea to take one though?  Or did you forget already!"
> Patchouli gives you a worried look upon hearing that

> Has Patchouli found whatever she's looking for yet?

> She picked up the card and is discreetly inspecting the paper

[Kilgamayan]

> "I meant why didn't the fire thingy happen the first time, if it was supposed to be a warning?"

[Tom]

> "I meant why didn't the fire thingy happen the first time, if it was supposed to be a warning?"

> The doll shakes it's head "I already warned you last time you tried to take one!  Unless you think a spontaneously combusting card also counts as one!?"
> Somewhat disappointed it leaps away and out of sight

> With everyone seemingly awaiting an explanation from the librarian she ensures no one's eavesdropping before stating "That ... doll somehow got in to *my library* and stole *my design*!" while pointing at  the cards
> She continues "You see we have a bit of a 'rodent problem' at the Library and since this particular 'rat' likes things bright and flashy I thought it'd only be fitting to make the 'prize' ignite!"

> Yuuka, Mima and Marisa approach
> Ghost Lady Mima asks "What happened?  I just saw the doll jump away from the roof"  Yuuka comments "Something smells burned..."
> Marisa laughs "Also what's this 'rat' you're referring to ze!?"

[Kilgamayan]

> "Uh...that all sounds a bit above my pay grade, so to speak..."

[Tom]

> "Uh...that all sounds a bit above my pay grade, so to speak..."

> Patchouli explains "You need not worry for the matter is simple; Marisa has been quote on quote borrowing from my library for years and my intention was to teach her a little lesson about returning things"

> She continues "The paper is magically enchanted to ignite if taken outside the premises without being directly or indirectly held by the enchanter"
> Pointing at the card "Some modifications seem to have been made to the spell however for there was no countdown warning in my original design.  That is why I failed to spot it earlier when you were holding the card Sakuya and I am sorry you were exposed to danger because of it."
> Sakuya immediately responds "You needn't worry for I had taken precautions too" while discreetly revealing a pocket watch in her other hand

> After pausing for a moment "With all that in mind though we can deduce that this 'Iris' is familiar to some degree with magical enchantments, for even with a *borrowed* design making such changes is not a trivial matter"

> Upon hearing this the trio of newcomers pick up some cards to inspect them closely and start casting some spells in hopes of revealing their properties

[Kilgamayan]

> "I, uh, see...I hope you find something useful to know."

[Tom]

> "I, uh, see...I hope you find something useful to know."

> Mima casts what a vaguely familiar spell the shrine maiden uses and soon after you notice a very slight shimmer surround the table in the shape of a sphere.
> Patchouli comments "*That* must be the 'premises' in our case"

> Marisa has been holding a card up against a bright light emitted from an octagonal box
> She remarks "They're indeed spell cards but not any kind I've seen before!"
> In response to that Yuuka casts a pattern binding spell
> Surprised she says "They act like blank spell cards, but shortly after you assign danmaku to them they revert back to being blank cards..."

> Patchouli explains, with a slight smirk "I seriously doubt you'll find a way to disenchant them, I designed this specifically to be Marisa proof"

[Kilgamayan]

> Let's sneak away from this conversation and head back inside the shrine.

[Tom]

> Let's sneak away from this conversation and head back inside the shrine.

> As you're thinking of leaving ghost lady Mima offers to make everyone some tea, after which she leaves for the warehouse.

> You use this as an opportunity to sneak away unnoticed, does your presence really matter that little?
> Upon entering the shrine you find the back door open and see Mokou sitting on the porch steps outside gazing at the small lake in the yard.

[Kilgamayan]

> "Oh, hey. Everything okay?"

[Tom]

> "Oh, hey. Everything okay?"

> Somewhat startled she turns around "Oh didn't hear you come in"

> After a short pause "Y-Yeah everything's alright j-just need a moment to clear my head that's all"
> She tosses something dimly burning into the lake and gets up to greet you

> "Fujiwara no Mokou.  You must be the inchling princess ..."
> She looks like she's trying hard to remember your name

[Kilgamayan]

> Nod.
> "That's me, yes. Not normally this big, though, ehehe~"

[Tom]

> Nod.
> "That's me, yes. Not normally this big, though, ehehe~"

> "Miraculous indeed, you're almost at tall as I am!  How'd you pull it off?" she asks intrigued

[Kilgamayan]

> Is Mokou abnormally tall for a human, that we can tell?
> Given her current circumstances, could Seija switch our height with Mokou's height, that we know?
> "Oh, well, y'know, my mallet can do some pretty amazing things when it wants to."

[Tom]

> Is Mokou abnormally tall for a human, that we can tell?

> She's not particularly tall, atleast not when compared to everyone else present.

> Given her current circumstances, could Seija switch our height with Mokou's height, that we know?

> You know very little of Seija's abilities, you believe she probably could but it'd be hardly noticeable

> "Oh, well, y'know, my mallet can do some pretty amazing things when it wants to."

> "Oh you mean that hammer thing on your waist? What else can it do? Do you think you could make someone big smaller?"

[Kilgamayan]

> Who would we need to tap with the mallet for Seija to flip our heights?
> "I assume so. Do you wanna try it? We could swap heights, which would make you at least a bit smaller."

[Tom]

> Who would we need to tap with the mallet for Seija to flip our heights?

> You'd need to tap Seija

> "I assume so. Do you wanna try it? We could swap heights, which would make you at least a bit smaller."

> She hesitates at first but then nods in agreement

[Kilgamayan]

> "Okay, let's try it..."
> Hold one fold of our robe open just enough that we can reach into it with the mallet with our other hand (but without showing off anything inside), and gently tap where Seija is, wishing to swap heights with Mokou (and hoping Seija will do it for us).

[Tom]

> "Okay, let's try it..."
> Hold one fold of our robe open just enough that we can reach into it with the mallet with our other hand (but without showing off anything inside), and gently tap where Seija is, wishing to swap heights with Mokou (and hoping Seija will do it for us).

> You discreetly maneuver around the bowl lid and tap Seija with the mallet who responds with a pinch

> Nothing happens at first until you start feeling little disoriented and before you know it you've swapped positions and sizes with Mokou!

> Seija must have done several swaps because you both nearly lose your balance and fall!

[Kilgamayan]

> "Wah!"
> Catch our balance!