Neo Gensokyo Quest - Part 4

[Kilgamayan]

Eternity:

> "It kinda looks it, doesn't it? I think Cirno likes Aya, though. But maybe Cirno found a way to turn Aya into a cow and freezing her solid was just an unfortunate side effect?"
> Walk up next to Aya, put a hand on her shoulder, and try calling on that new power within us to thaw her out.

[Neovereign]

Eternity:

> "It kinda looks it, doesn't it? I think Cirno likes Aya, though. But maybe Cirno found a way to turn Aya into a cow and freezing her solid was just an unfortunate side effect?"
> Walk up next to Aya, put a hand on her shoulder, and try calling on that new power within us to thaw her out.

Eternity:

> You try to thaw Aya...
> The mast time you heated up was when removing that cold energy. Thus, you try on Aya.
>...
> She seems to be thawing out.

Aya:

> You feel like you can move a bit again... in fact, you're warming up a little. Still freezing, but noticeably not as much.
>_

[Kilgamayan]

Eternity:

> "I think it's working. Heh heh heh, guess I'm stronger than you, Cirno~"

Aya:

> Do we think we can we speak?
> Move whatever part of us we can move, just a little bit.
> Try looking around. Who, if anyone, is present, and how do they look?

[Neovereign]

Eternity:

> "I think it's working. Heh heh heh, guess I'm stronger than you, Cirno~"

Aya:

> Do we think we can we speak?
> Move whatever part of us we can move, just a little bit.
> Try looking around. Who, if anyone, is present, and how do they look?

Eternity:

> "You're feeling good, huh?" Piece smiles.

Aya:

> You believe so.
> Still doesn't feel like you're moving...
> You can hear someone. And soon, can see.
> Its... Reimu? No,  Sanae in Reimu's outfit?
> And... that getup... Junko with Hecatia's dothes? She's got Clownpiece's hat.  ... and, wings?
>_

[Kilgamayan]

Eternity:

> "Of course! I'm on a date with a fairy I like, so I gotta feel good. Otherwise, what's the point?"

Aya:

> Blink a couple of times.
> "Ugh...is that you, Sanae? ...Lady Junko? What are you doing here?"

[Neovereign]

Eternity:

> "Of course! I'm on a date with a fairy I like, so I gotta feel good. Otherwise, what's the point?"

Aya:

> Blink a couple of times.
> "Ugh...is that you, Sanae? ...Lady Junko? What are you doing here?"

Eternity:

> "Oh, she's speaking." Piece points.
> All the cold is gone from her, but more keeps trying to come.

Aya:

> You feel numb, but you think you're alright now? Everything is coming back slowly. Still quicker than a human.
>_

[Kilgamayan]

Eternity:

> That's weird. Where's the cold coming from?
> Keep getting the cold away from Aya.
> Did we hear what Aya said?
> "Hi, Miss Aya! We're here to rescue you, just like the voices in my head told me to do."

Aya:

> Try to get a better handle on who's company we're in.

[Neovereign]

Eternity:

> That's weird. Where's the cold coming from?
> Keep getting the cold away from Aya.
> Did we hear what Aya said?
> "Hi, Miss Aya! We're here to rescue you, just like the voices in my head told me to do."

Aya:

> Try to get a better handle on who's company we're in.

Eternity:

> None of it is trying to get into you or piece, but they are for Aya and the other figure here.
> Yes.

Aya:

> It seems to be Eternity Larva and Clownpece, judging by their wings.
> voice in her head. So she's your help, as requested.
> "Wait,  Aya can put voices in your head? " Clownpiece questions the butterfly fairy.
>_

[Kilgamayan]

Aya:

> "Oh! Hey, Larva. Hey, Piece. You, uh, both look a lot different, in many ways."
> Look down at our chest, then back at the fairies.
> "Though I guess I'm not really one to talk about that, am I? Anyway, thanks for the rescue. I owe you both big time!"
> Frown at Piece in thought.
> "Voices? Well...I can do something like that, but it's not really voices. At least, not as far as I'm aware."
> Give Piece a wind-order to climb on top of our chest. (Do not order her to climb into it, just on top of it.)

Eternity:

> If we see Piece climb onto Aya's chest, look to Aya: "Oh, yeah. Why are you a cow now?"

[Neovereign]

Aya:

> "Oh! Hey, Larva. Hey, Piece. You, uh, both look a lot different, in many ways."
> Look down at our chest, then back at the fairies.
> "Though I guess I'm not really one to talk about that, am I? Anyway, thanks for the rescue. I owe you both big time!"
> Frown at Piece in thought.
> "Voices? Well...I can do something like that, but it's not really voices. At least, not as far as I'm aware."
> Give Piece a wind-order to climb on top of our chest. (Do not order her to climb into it, just on top of it.)

Eternity:

> If we see Piece climb onto Aya's chest, look to Aya: "Oh, yeah. Why are you a cow now?"

Aya:

> You try...
> But she doesn't move.
> "Well I hope I'm not just making Larva go crazy."
> Not that you have a moment... you notice some things are missing. Biggest being what was in Seija's grasp...
>_

[Kilgamayan]

Eternity:

> "Oh, why are you a cow now, anyway?"

Aya:

> Huh, weird. Guess Piece doesn't count as wind-related even though she's a winged creature. Or maybe it's Hecatia's doing? Well, whatever, we don't really need to deal with the repercussions of subconsciously forcing Piece to do things anyway.
> "Uh. Oh, right. Hey, wait, now that you mention it..."
> Look down at our chest and nudge it a bit with one of our arms.
> "Anyone okay in there? Can you move around so I know you're mobile?"
> Regardless of the response from our chest, inspect Seija up close for any other differences beyond the missing alleged inchling princess. Make sure we move into her field of vision and look head-on into her eyes with a concerned look of our own, so that if she's aware of anything, she knows we're here.

[Neovereign]

Eternity:

> "Oh, why are you a cow now, anyway?"

Aya:

> Huh, weird. Guess Piece doesn't count as wind-related even though she's a winged creature. Or maybe it's Hecatia's doing? Well, whatever, we don't really need to deal with the repercussions of subconsciously forcing Piece to do things anyway.
> "Uh. Oh, right. Hey, wait, now that you mention it..."
> Look down at our chest and nudge it a bit with one of our arms.
> "Anyone okay in there? Can you move around so I know you're mobile?"
> Regardless of the response from our chest, inspect Seija up close for any other differences beyond the missing alleged inchling princess. Make sure we move into her field of vision and look head-on into her eyes with a concerned look of our own, so that if she's aware of anything, she knows we're here.

Aya:

> You give up on it
> There's neither response in word nor movement.
> No noticeable difference from last you saw her frozen.
> If she doesn't have any specialty, she'll be just as unaware as you were.

Eternity:

> She didn't answer...
>_

[Kilgamayan]

Aya:

> Crap...we'll have to figure something out for those inside us. Those poor birds...
> Continue looking at Seija, just in case.
> "Hey, Seija. I don't know if you can hear me, but we're going to get you thawed and out of here, okay? It's the least I can do for you."
> Look back to Larva.
> "Sorry. Uh, I'm still a karasu tengu, to be clear. But this? It'd be easier to just show you, I think."
> Carefully lift Seija up and store her completely in our chest, sending her to join the four birds we have in there.

[Neovereign]

Aya:

> Crap...we'll have to figure something out for those inside us. Those poor birds...
> Continue looking at Seija, just in case.
> "Hey, Seija. I don't know if you can hear me, but we're going to get you thawed and out of here, okay? It's the least I can do for you."
> Look back to Larva.
> "Sorry. Uh, I'm still a karasu tengu, to be clear. But this? It'd be easier to just show you, I think."
> Carefully lift Seija up and store her completely in our chest, sending her to join the four birds we have in there.

Aya:

> You reassure the frozen amanojaku,  in case putting her in your chest would make one assume otherwise.
> ...
> You would, if not for her being stuck to the ground,  too.
>_

[Kilgamayan]

Aya:

> "...Crud."
> Look back to Larva.
> "Sorry. Uh, to be clear, I'm still a karasu tengu, not a cow. But yeah, I do look different, don't I? It's because I can hold things in here now."
> Reach into our chest and pull out one of Seija's cheat items, show it off, then put it back in.
> "I'm this large because there's a lot of things in there right now."

Eternity:

> "Whoa! That's pretty handy."
> Look to Piece, then back to Aya.
> "Hey, can you put people in there? Piece needs to take a nap, and it's probably really comfy in there, if it's there."

[Neovereign]

Aya:

> "...Crud."
> Look back to Larva.
> "Sorry. Uh, to be clear, I'm still a karasu tengu, not a cow. But yeah, I do look different, don't I? It's because I can hold things in here now."
> Reach into our chest and pull out one of Seija's cheat items, show it off, then put it back in.
> "I'm this large because there's a lot of things in there right now."

Eternity:

> "Whoa! That's pretty handy."
> Look to Piece, then back to Aya.
> "Hey, can you put people in there? Piece needs to take a nap, and it's probably really comfy in there, if it's there."

Aya:

> You pull out-
> ...
> They're gone? How is that even possible. You were frozen. You can even pull Seija off the floor, yet someone snagged what's inside you while you were frozen?

Eternity:

> "It does seem like a lot of room for such a  place..." piece considers.
>_

[Kilgamayan]

Aya:

> Look to Piece and gesture at our chest.
> "Feel free. There's room if you want it. Just climb inside."
> Look to Larva.
> "So what's going on here, anyway? You two seem to be doing pretty okay, and some things have changed since I remember getting frozen that shouldn't have changed."

Eternity:

> "Umm...well, Piece and I are on a date, which is nice. I also found I can pull cold energy out of people, which is how I thawed you. It's weird, though, cold energy keeps trying to go into you and that other person over there."
> Point at the horned popsicle of a woman stuck to the ground.
> "But it's not trying to get back into Piece or myself. Also, I felt a couple of other people close to you when I got here, but when I got close to them they started moving away from me. Maybe they're the ones that froze you?"

Aya:

> Take a moment to consider this information as Piece does whatever she's going to do.

[Neovereign]

Aya:

> Look to Piece and gesture at our chest.
> "Feel free. There's room if you want it. Just climb inside."
> Look to Larva.
> "So what's going on here, anyway? You two seem to be doing pretty okay, and some things have changed since I remember getting frozen that shouldn't have changed."

Eternity:

> "Umm...well, Piece and I are on a date, which is nice. I also found I can pull cold energy out of people, which is how I thawed you. It's weird, though, cold energy keeps trying to go into you and that other person over there."
> Point at the horned popsicle of a woman stuck to the ground.
> "But it's not trying to get back into Piece or myself. Also, I felt a couple of other people close to you when I got here, but when I got close to them they started moving away from me. Maybe they're the ones that froze you?"

Aya:

> Take a moment to consider this information as Piece does whatever she's going to do.

Aya:

> Piece seems unsure on how to approach.
> You could attribute this news to the cold not messing with Gods like Hecatia's subordinate here. And Eternity is always a weird case...
> As for other people, If it were Yukari, maybe she's looking for something here. Otherwise, shed just Gap away. Unless she just finished?
>_

[Kilgamayan]

Aya:

> Walk over to Piece.
> "Here, Piece, I'll help. It's okay, I don't mind at all. I hope you have a good rest."
> Gently lift Piece up and store her fully in our chest. (If she changes her mind, put her back down on the floor normally.)
> Then turn to Larva (even if Piece changes her mind).
> "We should probably chase after those people. Can you still feel them?"
> Try using the winds to feel for nearby movement.

Larva:

> Try sensing those moving life essences again.

[Neovereign]

Aya:

> Walk over to Piece.
> "Here, Piece, I'll help. It's okay, I don't mind at all. I hope you have a good rest."
> Gently lift Piece up and store her fully in our chest. (If she changes her mind, put her back down on the floor normally.)
> Then turn to Larva (even if Piece changes her mind).
> "We should probably chase after those people. Can you still feel them?"
> Try using the winds to feel for nearby movement.

Larva:

> Try sensing those moving life essences again.

Aya:

> You store the fairy.
> You try to feel any changes, and the is one. Someone's moving about in the castle, it seems.

Eternity:

> They're still on the move in this place.
>_

[Kilgamayan]

Eternity:

> Nod.
> "Yeah."
> Point in the direction we we can feel them.

Aya:

> Presumably whatever direction Larva is pointing at least roughly matches up with what we feel, right? Assuming so:
> Nod in return.
> "Okay. Since time is of the essence, I'm going to give you a ride. Don't slide all the way in."
> Pick up Eternity and store her in our chest up to her own chest, so that her head, shoulders, and arms are still outside.
> Then take off in pursuit of the person we can feel moving about. Don't go full breakneck speed, but definitely pick up the pace so that we get to them quickly.

Eternity:

> Don't resist being placed where Aya is placing us. Piece went in there, so it's presumably safe.
> Keep moving the cold out of Aya's body, as well, so that it doesn't overtake her again.

[Neovereign]

Eternity:

> Nod.
> "Yeah."
> Point in the direction we we can feel them.

Aya:

> Presumably whatever direction Larva is pointing at least roughly matches up with what we feel, right? Assuming so:
> Nod in return.
> "Okay. Since time is of the essence, I'm going to give you a ride. Don't slide all the way in."
> Pick up Eternity and store her in our chest up to her own chest, so that her head, shoulders, and arms are still outside.
> Then take off in pursuit of the person we can feel moving about. Don't go full breakneck speed, but definitely pick up the pace so that we get to them quickly.

Eternity:

> Don't resist being placed where Aya is placing us. Piece went in there, so it's presumably safe.
> Keep moving the cold out of Aya's body, as well, so that it doesn't overtake her again.

Aya:

> She's got it right. Somehow.
> You put Eternity in the hot seat and start your pursuit.

Eternity:

> There's more cold with her moving faster like this, but you can keep up.
>_

[Kilgamayan]

Eternity:

> Speak quietly, since this appears to be some sort of stealth mission: "There's more cold energy when you fly really fast. I can handle it, no problem, but I thought you should know anyway, since that seems pretty weird. Maybe it's related to why cold energy keeps trying to get into you and that horned woman?"

Aya:

> That is strange. Though...come to think of it, we were getting noticeably colder every time we went fast, or vibrated in place. ...Doing unnatural things that only we can do...and Utsuho also mentioned her heat couldn't keep up with the cold onset...
> Maybe...maybe the cold is related to the blending of fantasy and reality? Gods, that would be a real issue...what would we even be like if we couldn't fly or move any faster than anyone else or do any of the supernatural things we can do that make us Gensokyo's finest?
> ...Oh Gods, not just us, but the entire tengu race! Lord Tenma, Hata, Momi, Boss, Suzaku, Ami, the rest of our sisters...do any of them even have the remotest clue that they might be advancing their own frozen dooms just by doing what they always do? And if not...
> Shiver, not from the cold. Then frown, taking on an equally quiet voice.
> "...That's very good to know, Larva. Thank you."
> Pet Larva's head and hair some.

[Neovereign]

Eternity:

> Speak quietly, since this appears to be some sort of stealth mission: "There's more cold energy when you fly really fast. I can handle it, no problem, but I thought you should know anyway, since that seems pretty weird. Maybe it's related to why cold energy keeps trying to get into you and that horned woman?"

Aya:

> That is strange. Though...come to think of it, we were getting noticeably colder every time we went fast, or vibrated in place. ...Doing unnatural things that only we can do...and Utsuho also mentioned her heat couldn't keep up with the cold onset...
> Maybe...maybe the cold is related to the blending of fantasy and reality? Gods, that would be a real issue...what would we even be like if we couldn't fly or move any faster than anyone else or do any of the supernatural things we can do that make us Gensokyo's finest?
> ...Oh Gods, not just us, but the entire tengu race! Lord Tenma, Hata, Momi, Boss, Suzaku, Ami, the rest of our sisters...do any of them even have the remotest clue that they might be advancing their own frozen dooms just by doing what they always do? And if not...
> Shiver, not from the cold. Then frown, taking on an equally quiet voice.
> "...That's very good to know, Larva. Thank you."
> Pet Larva's head and hair some.

Aya:

> You shudder as your mind wanders the possibilities... but whatever Larva did stopped it. And it must be something unique she can do. But why won't the cold go to her.  She didn't even say it was failing to like she was preventing it.

> The target seems to be headed to the edge of the castle,  but you've caught up first.
> It seems to be Yukari. At least from the back. You don't think it could be a different blonde like Junko.
>_

[Kilgamayan]

Eternity:

> Smile and enjoy the pets. We did a good job being a hero, and on our first ever try, too!

Aya:

> She also mentioned it wasn't going to Piece, but it was going to Seija. Might it be that it happens to youkai, but not fairies? How are other species affected? This requires more investigation. And maybe a conversation with Akyuu, assuming she's not a popsicle.
> Slow down to a stop, taking a curious tone.
> "Lady Yakumo?"

[Neovereign]

Eternity:

> Smile and enjoy the pets. We did a good job being a hero, and on our first ever try, too!

Aya:

> She also mentioned it wasn't going to Piece, but it was going to Seija. Might it be that it happens to youkai, but not fairies? How are other species affected? This requires more investigation. And maybe a conversation with Akyuu, assuming she's not a popsicle.
> Slow down to a stop, taking a curious tone.
> "Lady Yakumo?"

Eternity:

> This was pretty easy. No fights or anything. Just cold.

Aya:

> Yukari turns around,  revealing a bag, and the cheat items partially inside.
> "..."
> Yukari puts her lips in her mouth,  looking at you, then to the sides in silence...
> Then turns around, continuing her path.
>_

[Kilgamayan]

Eternity:

> Maybe we can take over for Reimu!
> Reach an arm deeper into Aya's chest and feel around for Piece. Don't dunk our entire selves in, of course, we were specifically told to not do that!

Aya:

> Narrow our eyes.
> Send a wind whisper to Yukari's left ear: "Are there hostiles listening in? Nod or shake."
> Try feeling for nearby movement through the wind.

[Neovereign]

Eternity:

> Maybe we can take over for Reimu!
> Reach an arm deeper into Aya's chest and feel around for Piece. Don't dunk our entire selves in, of course, we were specifically told to not do that!

Aya:

> Narrow our eyes.
> Send a wind whisper to Yukari's left ear: "Are there hostiles listening in? Nod or shake."
> Try feeling for nearby movement through the wind.

Eternity:

> You reach around... you're not sure if you can feel Piece.

Aya:

> Other than you and her, no one else seems to be around.
> Yukari seems to ignore your whisper, not even flinching.
>_

[Kilgamayan]

Aya:

> Look around with our eyes for anything unusual, then.
> Absentmindedly pet Larva while we do so.

Eternity:

> Huh, weird. Must be something about whatever magic Aya has going.
> ...Wait, what's Miss Yukari doing here? Wasn't she just napping at the shrine??? We gotta-
> Ooh, that's the good stuff. More of the pettings, please!
> Wait, no no no, don't get distracted! We're a hero now, we gotta do hero stuff!
> Check this Yukari's life essence, and compare it to what we felt from the Yukari back at the shrine. Maybe there are two Yukaris now?

[Neovereign]

Aya:

> Look around with our eyes for anything unusual, then.
> Absentmindedly pet Larva while we do so.

Eternity:

> Huh, weird. Must be something about whatever magic Aya has going.
> ...Wait, what's Miss Yukari doing here? Wasn't she just napping at the shrine??? We gotta-
> Ooh, that's the good stuff. More of the pettings, please!
> Wait, no no no, don't get distracted! We're a hero now, we gotta do hero stuff!
> Check this Yukari's life essence, and compare it to what we felt from the Yukari back at the shrine. Maybe there are two Yukaris now?

Aya:

> Nothing amiss...

Eternity:

> It is different. Very different. She feels weird.
> Yet she's not freezing. No, the cold's trying to get to her. A lot of it.
> Like. A lot a lot. You think trying to touch her might freeze anyone that makes such an attempt with how much is trying to get to her.
> Yet they're blocked off nearly completely from getting too close... Like there's a wall between her and her clothes.
> It makes you wonder if she's the one actually causing this, or just another victim. This is strange.
>_