Seija Quest 3

[Kilgamayan]

> "Yeah. She was controlling the bridge princess for a bit there, it seems. Depending on how long you stick with me, you'll probably get to see her again. Or for the first time, I suppose."
> Describe Iris's appearance to Sariel.

[Tom]

> "Yeah. She was controlling the bridge princess for a bit there, it seems. Depending on how long you stick with me, you'll probably get to see her again. Or for the first time, I suppose."
> Describe Iris's appearance to Sariel.

> "I've never sensed such type of power before... in all who I've had to chase down." She explains.
> "A doll you say?  How can such a small being be so impactful?" making you let out a laugh instinctively as Sariel gazes around, realizing she too is the size of a doll.
> "I suspect some power is puppeteering her from afar or possessing her..."

[Kilgamayan]

> "Oh, definitely. She's admitted to be working on someone's behalf."

[Tom]

> "Oh, definitely. She's admitted to be working on someone's behalf."

> "Perhaps that someone is the source of magical power, if we entertain the thought the doll could even be a mere inanimate object without them."

[Kilgamayan]

> "It's quite possible. Iris seems pretty self-willed, but that could very well be a direct extension of her master's will."
> Describe the contest that Iris kicked off the other day to Sariel.

[Tom]

> "It's quite possible. Iris seems pretty self-willed, but that could very well be a direct extension of her master's will."
> Describe the contest that Iris kicked off the other day to Sariel.

> Sariel twirls around and summons a staff before pointing it towards you "She and her master shall be vanquished!"
> She dispels the staff and listens to your explanation of the contest with utmost curiosity, especially the part where you explain Mima's first incident.  "That ghostly evil spirit, her appearance reminds me of a mercenary I once comissioned to help with a particularly powerful demon.  She summoned a purple sun with glowing rings that grew and turned red before exploding in a most spectacular supernova that annihilated the demon!"

[Kilgamayan]

> Did Mima have any attacks like that?

[Tom]

> Did Mima have any attacks like that?

> If she did you never saw them.  They do sound incredibly impressive though, a supernova?  You wish you had that kind of firepower.

[Kilgamayan]

> "Hmm. Well, you might see her again if you travel with me enough."
> "I like the enthusiasm you've got going on with regards to whoever is in control of Iris, though. Would you like to come back home with me? Maybe we could team up for an extended period of time."

[Tom]

> "Hmm. Well, you might see her again if you travel with me enough."
> "I like the enthusiasm you've got going on with regards to whoever is in control of Iris, though. Would you like to come back home with me? Maybe we could team up for an extended period of time."

> Sariel ponders your offer and nods "That sounds mutually beneficial.  My intuition tells me that there may be more leads on the knife symbols there too..."

[Kilgamayan]

> "Great. I'll be glad to have you with us, and I'm sure the Princess will too."

[Tom]

> "Great. I'll be glad to have you with us, and I'm sure the Princess will too."

> She raises an eyebrow "The Princess?"

[Kilgamayan]

> "Oh, right. Princess Shinmyoumaru Sukuna, a kobito. Her home is where I live these days. She's actually the one whose size you are right now."
> Adopt a thinking expression.
> "I'll admit she's a bit...particular on people not knowing how to get to her home, but I'm sure we can work something out."
> Grin and wink at Sariel.
> "If nothing else, you can just hide up my dress again."

[Tom]

> "Oh, right. Princess Shinmyoumaru Sukuna, a kobito. Her home is where I live these days. She's actually the one whose size you are right now."

> "I see, and how did an AmanojakuOni such as yourself come to know a kobito?" Sariel asks.

> Adopt a thinking expression.
> "I'll admit she's a bit...particular on people not knowing how to get to her home, but I'm sure we can work something out."
> Grin and wink at Sariel.
> "If nothing else, you can just hide up my dress again."

> "Shall we get going then?" she asks, pointing upward in the tunnel.

[Kilgamayan]

> ...Wait, how did she know we're an amanojaku instead of just a plain-ol' oni?

[Tom]

// That is a case of GM oversight, my bad!  It has been stricken from the record!

[Kilgamayan]

> "Yeah, let's."
> Scoop Sariel back into the gentle front hug to keep her secure against our chest without crushing her, and begin flying back up the way we came.
> "Anyway, she and I met and allied over common goals. She wanted the respect that doesn't come when one lives much smaller than everyone else, and I can pretty much always get on board with defying convention. Remember that I asked you before about having allies on your side in the event you wanted a different life for yourself and resigned from your job."

[Tom]

> "Yeah, let's."
> Scoop Sariel back into the gentle front hug to keep her secure against our chest without crushing her, and begin flying back up the way we came.
> "Anyway, she and I met and allied over common goals. She wanted the respect that doesn't come when one lives much smaller than everyone else, and I can pretty much always get on board with defying convention. Remember that I asked you before about having allies on your side in the event you wanted a different life for yourself and resigned from your job."

> You ascend through the cave and only now notice there's a spiral path along it's edge carved into the rock.

> Sariel nods stoically "I've just seen how everything appears insurmountable when one is so small.  I imagine it makes it hard to have a voice or opinion in matters when everyone is so intimidating.  I trust that you've used your abilities to help her gain the respect she deserves."

[Kilgamayan]

> Does the spiral path appear traversable on foot, so that someone who couldn't fly could walk up and down the hole?
> "I've done what I can, yeah. I do think she's in a better place socially now, at least, but maybe I'm not the most unbiased judge."

[Tom]

> Does the spiral path appear traversable on foot, so that someone who couldn't fly could walk up and down the hole?
> "I've done what I can, yeah. I do think she's in a better place socially now, at least, but maybe I'm not the most unbiased judge."

> You yet to meet someone in Gensokyo who cannot fly (except perhaps the young who haven't learned yet), you imagine it's for carts and transporting goods!  Surely such a bustling city must export and import many wares.
> "I see, you sure live in a very peculiar land..." she comments

[Branneg Xy]

> You yet to meet someone in Gensokyo who cannot fly (except perhaps the young who haven't learned yet), you imagine it's for carts and transporting goods!  Surely such a bustling city must export and import many wares.
> "I see, you sure live in a very peculiar land..." she comments

> "It surely has its peculiarities and charms"

> Before taking off and fly, hover and observe a bit The City you are leaving behind to see if the "coast is clear or not", then...

>... proceed flying following that spiraling path.

[Kilgamayan]

> Chuckle.
> "I hope you find it interesting and enjoyable while you're there."

[Tom]

> Chuckle.
> "I hope you find it interesting and enjoyable while you're there."

> She shuffles around and asks "I'm sure I will.  However, what might it's residents think of outsiders?  The demon realm we met in doesn't take kindly to outsiders... thinking back fate was likely on your side as you did not happen to run into any of the local residents."

> You reach the top of the cave and notice there are two pathways, one from which you came and another leading slughtly upwards.  In the distance you belive to see light!  Perhaps it was dark outside last time you were here and didn't notice it?

[Kilgamayan]

> Head along the pathway leading slightly upwards, since presumably that's the direction Gensokyo is in.
> "Uh. I don't think they mind too much? I think a new shrine just up and appeared one day a handful of years back, with a new shrine maiden and a couple of gods from the Outside World. Or something. I admittedly haven't paid them much attention."
> "That being said, if folks give you strawberries for being a foreigner, that'll be all the more reason for me to stick with you."

[Tom]

> Head along the pathway leading slightly upwards, since presumably that's the direction Gensokyo is in.
> "Uh. I don't think they mind too much? I think a new shrine just up and appeared one day a handful of years back, with a new shrine maiden and a couple of gods from the Outside World. Or something. I admittedly haven't paid them much attention."
> "That being said, if folks give you strawberries for being a foreigner, that'll be all the more reason for me to stick with you."

> "They may however perceive my kind as a threat if they identify what I am." she explains

[Kilgamayan]

> "Then just don't tell 'em. And even if they do figure it out on their own eventually, you'll have coexisted peacefully for long enough to be able to argue that your presence isn't a problem."

[Tom]

> "Then just don't tell 'em. And even if they do figure it out on their own eventually, you'll have coexisted peacefully for long enough to be able to argue that your presence isn't a problem."

> "What should I say if someone asks?  I'm not exactly well versed in what does and does not exist in this land." she asks.

> Continuing through the cave you reach it's end where a small path leads out to a forest.  Looking back at the mouth of the cave you spot a sign that reads "Cave to Ancient City".
> "Wait, look at the sign more carefully." Sariel suggests.  Upon closer inspection you notice it's made up of two boards, the older one reading "Cave to" and the newer one nailed ontop of it reading "Ancient City".  How odd... Was the city renamed recently or was the sign shoddily repaired?

[Kilgamayan]

> Is the newer board covering part of the older board, or does whatever used to be behind where "Ancient City" is now appear to be gone?
> If the newer board is covering the older board, try flipping the newer board from opaque to transparent, to see if we can see what's written behind it.

[Tom]

> Is the newer board covering part of the older board, or does whatever used to be behind where "Ancient City" is now appear to be gone?
> If the newer board is covering the older board, try flipping the newer board from opaque to transparent, to see if we can see what's written behind it.

> It's been nailed over to cover it.
> You flip it's opacity, turning it semi-transparent and revealing the word "Hell & Makai" below.  Was it perhaps two cities that merged into one, which got named the "Ancient City"?  Thinking back you seem to recall some Oni mentioning the name "Former Hell" in the town square during their discussions.  You didn't give it much attention though as it didn't sound relevant at the time.

[Kilgamayan]

> "Huh. Guess that explains the 'Former Hell' stuff down in the underground city. I'm guessing 'Makai' is where we ran into each other, then?"