Seija Quest 4

[Tom]

> Huh.
> ...
> Smile just the slightest bit.
> "Would it be inconvenient if I preferred you?"

> She opens the basket "Certainly not, this should only take a moment!"

[Kilgamayan]

> "Then please do."
> Let 'Miss Lavender' do her thing.
> If she is non-conversational during this process, in the middle of it, say: "Mmm. An idle curiosity, Miss Lavender. Does the name 'Yakumo' mean anything to you?"

[Tom]

> "Then please do."
> Let 'Miss Lavender' do her thing.
> If she is non-conversational during this process, in the middle of it, say: "Mmm. An idle curiosity, Miss Lavender. Does the name 'Yakumo' mean anything to you?"

> Miss Lavender nods before removing an ornate dress from the basket along with some other accessories.  While she's assisting you putting them on you find a moment to ask about the 'Yakumo' name and you notice her eye twitch upon hearing it.
> She asks "What an uncommon name?  Where may you have heard about it?"

[Kilgamayan]

> "A strangely vivid dream. It felt almost real."

[Tom]

> "A strangely vivid dream. It felt almost real."

> Worried "Could you elaborate Lead Minister?"

[Kilgamayan]

> "Well...I admit, I somewhat fear talking about it may lead to people thinking I am losing my mind."

[Tom]

> "Well...I admit, I somewhat fear talking about it may lead to people thinking I am losing my mind."

> She steps around to look at you in the eyes and places her hands on your shoulders before asking "A premonition?  I cannot help you if you keep me in the dark."
> She gazes at you expectantly while taking out several ornate hair pins and ornaments from her basket. "Which shall you wear today miss?"

[Kilgamayan]

> Have a look. What are the options?

[Tom]

> Have a look. What are the options?

> She holds out a tray full of hair pins:

• Moonlit Hairpin: Crafted from silver with a delicate crescent moon design, this hairpin seems to capture the essence of a starry night sky.
• Floral Cascade Hairpin: Adorned with tiny, intricately carved blossoms of various hues, this hairpin seems to bloom with life.
• Phoenix Feather Hairpin: A large golden feather, said to imitate a feather once plucked from the tail of a phoenix, this hairpin radiates warmth and vitality.
• Obsidian Elegance Hairpin: Carved from obsidian and adorned with shimmering threads of silver, this hairpin seems to absorb light, casting shadows even in the brightest of rooms.

> There's a few other ornaments on the tray she hasn't pointed to yet.

[Kilgamayan]

> "Ooh, these all have their own appeal...decisions, decisions..."
> What else?

[Tom]

> "Ooh, these all have their own appeal...decisions, decisions..."
> What else?

> She complements "Aren't they wonderful?  I wish one day to be able to afford even one of such elegance!"

> You take a look at the ornaments and they appear to be in sets that match a particular hairpin.

[Kilgamayan]

> "Mmm...I'll go with the moonlit set, please."
> Once Miss Lavender gets back to work: "And I suppose you raise a good point. ...Near as I can tell, I was in some sort of fantastical setting, with many creatures one night normally consider wicked monsters. But, oddly enough, they were all humanoid, and...the land was actually rather peaceful. Not idyllic, certainly, but...they behaved almost as though they were human themselves."
> Lower our voice a bit.
> "But the strangest thing...was that I myself was one such humanoid monster."

[Tom]

> "Mmm...I'll go with the moonlit set, please."
> Once Miss Lavender gets back to work: "And I suppose you raise a good point. ...Near as I can tell, I was in some sort of fantastical setting, with many creatures one night normally consider wicked monsters. But, oddly enough, they were all humanoid, and...the land was actually rather peaceful. Not idyllic, certainly, but...they behaved almost as though they were human themselves."
> Lower our voice a bit.
> "But the strangest thing...was that I myself was one such humanoid monster."

> In thought "Wicked monsters..." she gazes at the official looking documents on your desk and comments before smiling and placing the hairpin on your head.
> As she adds the set of ornaments she explains "Lead Minister you must be overworked from trying to solve that case of the mysterious deaths in the city.  I suggest taking a few days off and visiting the empress' summer palace!"

[Kilgamayan]

> Does 'solving a case of mysterious deaths in the city' sound like something familiar from our past?

[Tom]

> Does 'solving a case of mysterious deaths in the city' sound like something familiar from our past?

> It may have fallen within your responsibilities as Lead Minister?

[Kilgamayan]

> "...Maybe. ...It is simply so strange that such a setting would be friendly, instead of awash in blood..."
> "Anyway, to get back to why I originally brought this up, one of the more prominent youkai had the family name 'Yakumo'. She had blonde hair, and an association with purple, so I was reminded of her when I saw you."

[Tom]

> "...Maybe. ...It is simply so strange that such a setting would be friendly, instead of awash in blood..."
> "Anyway, to get back to why I originally brought this up, one of the more prominent youkai had the family name 'Yakumo'. She had blonde hair, and an association with purple, so I was reminded of her when I saw you."

> She smiles at your first comment "How about a premonition that your continued service as the Lead Minister will promote prosperity within the dynasty?"
> Absentmindedly "A peaceful land where even wicked monsters can be friendly is such a wonderful idea...  Away from perpetual wars between the realms and class struggles between the citizens and within the court."
> She finishes fixing your hair and asks "Could you create such a utopia here Lead Minister?"
> In a low whisper "Since you've got your eyes on the throne, promise me you'll be different from the one you replace?"

> She holds your hand and smiles "I suppose my role in the palace is quite prominent as the head maid.  I'm happily surprised it's reflected as such through your mind and dreams."

[Kilgamayan]

> Smile in return.
> "Of course. Honestly, I got the feeling this person was more important to the land than I was. Perhaps my subconscious has particular political opinions."

[Tom]

> Smile in return.
> "Of course. Honestly, I got the feeling this person was more important to the land than I was. Perhaps my subconscious has particular political opinions."

> Holding your hand she asks "How so?"
> She retrieves a silver mirror from her basket before showing you the elegant hairpin and decorations.

[Kilgamayan]

> What do we actually know about Yukari Yakumo?

[Tom]

> What do we actually know about Yukari Yakumo?

> You know that she cares more about Gensokyo than even the shrine maiden.  Shinmyoumaru said that she visited the Hakurei Shrine regularly while she lived there and would treat Reimu to tea out by the lake behind the shrine on starry nights to discuss matters concerning Gensokyo.  Shinmyoumaru also complained that she was almost never invited to join them, something about 'being a third wheel', though she couldn't understand what it meant.

[Kilgamayan]

> Nod in approval at the presented accoutrements.
> If we're expected to put them on ourselves, do so. Otherwise, let Miss Lavender finish it.
> "Her passion for the land, and her relationship with the...shrine maiden champion of humanity, I think is the best way to put it."

[Tom]

> Nod in approval at the presented accoutrements.
> If we're expected to put them on ourselves, do so. Otherwise, let Miss Lavender finish it.
> "Her passion for the land, and her relationship with the...shrine maiden champion of humanity, I think is the best way to put it."

> You're already wearing them, she's holding the mirror for you to see your reflection.
> She smiles at your description "Speaking of the land, the war minister's recently implemented policy adjustments allowing private armies to impose tariffs on civilians of the territories they protect has been causing unrest amongs the less wealthy.  Coupled with rumors of several cases of the mysterious deaths being related to opponents of the policy, we may have a difficult to control situation on our hands."
> In a whisper "Furthermore, our informant amongst the war minister's staff has reported unofficial communications addressed to two high ranking generals.  Could there be sinister or exploitative objectives behind the policy adjustment?"

[Kilgamayan]

> Frown.
> Whisper: "There always is."

[Tom]

> Frown.
> Whisper: "There always is."

> She whispers "What shall I instruct our informant to do following this development?"
> She looks towards the door before asking openly "Any leads on those mysterious cases in town?"

[Kilgamayan]

> Now that we've been in this setting for a bit, can we recall anything about what she's talking about?

[Tom]

> Now that we've been in this setting for a bit, can we recall anything about what she's talking about?

> You're unable to recall specifics, yet you get this gut feeling whoever this war minister is, they're dangerous.  As for the other mystery, you're drawing a blank, perhaps it only started recently?

[Kilgamayan]

> Gruh...
> Can we remember anything specific about our relationship with this 'Miss Lavender'?

[Tom]

> Gruh...
> Can we remember anything specific about our relationship with this 'Miss Lavender'?

> Thinking hard you recall that you've been acquainted for quite a long time!  A blessing and a curse, as she probably knows more about you than you know about yourself at the moment!

[Kilgamayan]

> Can we recall her full name, then?
> Have we ever been romantically involved with her?