In which a Wizard trolls the SDM.
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>>126187 [x] Change into your single fancy robe w/ matching hat, the one you were going to wear for your after-dragonslaying feast.
-[x] Blue with little stars.
[x] Go to the Mansion, with a little time to get the feel of things before dinner.
[x] Act like a perfect gentleman with Keine.
“Yes,” you agree. “We may as well move it towards free food and cold beer.”
Keine cocks her head. “Cold beer?”
“Just a saying. I prefer liquor, myself.” You’ve nearly cleared the commercial district (which consists of one long street,) and you spot some weathered benches sitting near a tiny building with large windows- a ‘grab stand’ restaurant, it appears. “Hey, let’s sit down a moment, I want to compare notes with you on this secret society of ours.”
You take a seat across from Keine, who’s still fidgeting uncomfortably, glancing about to see if anybody’s staring at her new gown. Cirno plops down next to you, and stretches elaborately. “This secret mission is
so much better then freezing frogs all day!” she declares happily.
“Damn straight,” you say tousling Cirno’s hair affectionately. “And we haven’t even gotten to the part where we beat sixteen cultists to death with a live goat.”
“A live goat!?” Keine exclaims.
“It might’ve been a calf. It was pretty dark in those ancient ruins.”
“Oh dear,” Keine says, burying her face in her palm. “You lead an insane life, you know that?”
“I prefer the term ‘dynamic’,” you say primly. “Anyways- Arigasha said something about humans that ‘don’t care about other humans’, and that shopkeeper let on to some... tension in their group concerning you? What’s all that about?”
Keine sighs, and folds her hands together. “Reimu Hakurei is what it’s all about. She’s the human miko of the Hakurei shrine, which guards the border between Gensokyo and the outside world. Technically it’s her job to look after the humans in Gensokyo, but...” Keine shrugs. “She’s made friends with several youkai, many others frequent the shrine, and naturally, villagers are reluctant to go visit there now.”
“You mean they’re scared shitless,” Cirno interjects.
“Cirno!” Keine objects, then looks at you. “She’s picking up your terrible language,” she scolds, sounding very much the schoolteacher.
“You mean she’s learning how to express her thoughts concisely,” you object, wrapping your arm around the little fairy supportively. “A useful step in her magical education!”
Keine shakes her head, smiling a little. “In any case, she’s right. And other humans in Gensokyo with any measure of power tend to be distant from ordinary folk. When you’re immortal, or you can stop time, like Sakuya... it’s very hard to relate.”
“So you’ve basically supplanted Reimu as the protector of the village, then?”
“Yes. And I actually
live here, too. But even though I’m effectively human, and was
born human...” Keine shrugs. “Well, some of the most paranoid avoid me. Often farmers, because they deal with feral youkai the most.” Her tone is casual, unconcerned, but she avoids your eyes, studying her hands.
“But you’re not actively working against them, though.”
“No!” Keine exclaims, flattening her palms on the table and rising off her seat a little. “That’s just the thing, I’m trying to
teach people some of the ‘secrets of Gensokyo’ these morons are after, and they just blow me off!” She sets back into her chair, looking a little peeved.
You smile, and shake your head. “I’ve seen the same thing many times. Farming communities especially, and most are. They’ve got too much to worry about vis a vis basic survival to ponder history much.”
Keine nods in agreement. “I’ve said as much.”
“What about Sanae, though?” you ask. “Isn’t she human? And a shrine maiden?”
“She... is, actually,” Keine says thoughtfully. “Her shrine is on a mountain called ‘youkai mountain’, though, so as you can imagine, it doesn’t help much. Still, I’ve heard she’s even a little
wary of becoming too familiar with youkai, but living where she does, the girl doesn’t have much choice.”
You ponder that carefully. “She doesn’t come to town much, does she?”
“Not unless she’s running an errand for Suwako or Kanako, no.”
You think back on how abrupt your encounter with Sanae was- In the middle of some field, no less- and compare it with the information that she’s not prone to pointless wandering. You file the observation away for later.
“Well, that’s something to think about,” you say vaguely. “We’d best be on our way, though. Oh, almost forgot-” you look down at your robe, glance at the girls outfits briefly, and speak a single word.
“Fabulosity.”
In the blink of an eye, your deep gray robes become dark navy blue, almost black, with what looks like stars floating across the surface. Quite literally floating; the robe is now effected by an active glamer. Your hat has likewise went from gray to dark blue, and the stars and crescent moons on it now rotate slowly.
“I might nix the animated effects,” you say. “A little too distracting.”
“Another spell?” Keine asks, gently fingering the cloth where the stars are moving.
“Not this time,” you reply. “My robes and hat have so many enchantments on ‘em I’ve forgotten what half of them do. Fireproof, tear-proof, all of that, and the illusion effect sure does cut down on needed wardrobe. I hate changing.”
“Well, Mister ‘Fabulosity,’ I think you look splendid,” Keine says warmly, tweaking your nose. “Let’s get going.”
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Thirty minutes later, you catch your first sight of the fabled Scarlet Devil Mansion from the air. It’s a sprawling complex, with a few small outbuildings and a large courtyard in the middle. There’s relatively few windows, but quite a few small brick rectangles marking the top of chimneys.
“Well, that’s better then I was expecting,” you say, giving the huge building the once-over. “No gargoyles, no pointy turrets, just some ugly shingles.”
“Shall we land at the front gate?” Keine asks.
“No,” you say. “We’re not sneaking around, but there’s no reason to announce our presence before we have to. Chances are the vamps know we’re here already, but they’re holding back introductions until dinner. They’re drama queens like that.”
“Are you sure that’s wise?” Keine asks. “To come in without invitation?”
“We
are invited,” you point out. “And wherever vampires are involved, I’ll take any advantage I can get.” Keine, who’s voiced her distrust of the Scarlet Sisters more then once, doesn’t look happy, but declines to protest.
You pick out the courtyard with a garden in it, just beyond the clocktower, and touch down there. “And that’s what I count on,” you continue. “It gives you an opportunity to take liberties. Like we’re about to.”
“Whatch’a mean?” Cirno asks, puzzled.
“I’m going to learn something about this
before the bloodsuckers show up at dinner and start acting coy and mysterious,” you say. “So I can... well, you’ll see.”
“I don’t like it when he says that,” Cirno says worriedly.
“You’re not the only one,” Keine comments.
[ ] Let’s go explore that Library I’ve heard so much about. This is a prime opportunity to do some, ah, ‘independent research,’ to say nothing of the whole scrying business.
[ ] Why don’t we pay Sakuya a visit. She needs to be taken down a peg.
[ ] Since we’re here with some time to spare, let’s... prepare some fallback positions.
[ ] Write-in?
Only enough time for one option.
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