Exalted in Gensokyo

[21:27]	<huh>	Marren: you hear sounds in the forest. Something is coming your way. Something large.
[21:29]	<[Mode]Marren>	Nnnguh?
[21:29]	* [Mode]Marren	swings around lazily, trying to orient himself towards the sound approaching.
[21:41]	<huh>	What emerges through the trees... is a monstrosity. Seriously, this thing looks like something that came out of a blender, not that blenders exist. It's vaguely human. However, the fact that the small amount of its skin that you can see is barklike puts you off of the notion. It has two octopus tentacles sprouting from it at random points, tipped with scorpion stingers. Short bristly fur of varying completely inappropriate hues covers most of its body. In fact
[21:42]	<huh>	In fact, it seems to be walking on its hands, and its feet sprout out of its front, completely disreagrding a need for arms. THe list could go on, but I think you get the idea.
[21:43]	<[Mode]Marren>	Huh. Whath-Hell're you sposed t'be?
[21:44]	<huh>	At the noise, is turns its single eyestalk at you, and roars through a slit on its abdomen.
[21:44]	<[Mode]Marren>	Mmngh, think those guys put someth' in my drink...
[21:50]	-->|	Wriggle ([email protected]) has joined #exalted
[21:51]	=-=	Wriggle is now known as [PB]Elludia
[21:52]	<huh>	The thing starts to move toward you. You're actually sort of confused how it manages locomotion. For one thing, its weight balance...
[21:54]	<huh>	but your thoughts are interrupted as a flash of light erupts in the distance. A hail of needles rains through the trees, piercing easily through the creature's unnatural body.
[21:58]	<huh>	The creature thrashes, one of the shots had taken its vision. However, another rain of needles quickly comes after, and the creature falls. And then, through the trees emerges a young girl. She's dressed in red and white, with black hair, and she's hovering a fot or two off the ground.
[21:58]	<huh>	[foot]
[21:59]	<[Mode]Marren>	Cool light show, lady.
[21:59]	<huh>	"What the fuck was that thing?" she kicks the body, looking at it sharply. Though her voice is soft, the tone itself is hard.
[21:59]	<huh>	at your voice, she focuses on you.
[21:59]	<huh>	"Ans what are yuo doing out here? You know the forest is dangerous."
[22:01]	<[Mode]Marren>	Well, excuuuse me princess! N'one said anythin' 'bout no forest 'round here b'fore I started drinkin'.
[22:01]	<[Mode]Marren>	Drinking... that reminds me...
[22:01]	* [Mode]Marren	starts searching himself for any left over bottles.
[22:02]	<huh>	"Don't you think you've had quite enough of that?" As you find one, she confiscates it with surprising agility.
[22:03]	* [Mode]Marren	blinks a bit as the bottle is taken from him.
[22:03]	<[Mode]Marren>	... 'coulda sworn I just found some'ing...
[22:04]	* [Mode]Marren	looks at the floating girl.
[22:04]	<[Mode]Marren>	Oh hey, you brought summa your own! Awesome.
[22:05]	<huh>	She takes a swig of the bottle, then looks at it in surprise. "Thinking about it, your clothes are certainly odd. Are you an outsider?"
[22:06]	* [Mode]Marren	looks down at his clothes, then back up at the girl.
[22:06]	<[Mode]Marren>	Uh... what?
[22:07]	<huh>	"Y'are, right? Damn, first that thing, now you. Troublesome night, this. In any case, I can't have you just wandering around here, doing whatever you like. This might hurt a bit, but..."
[22:08]	<huh>	She takes a last drink from the bottle, then brings it down on your head. The world goes black.
[22:10]	<huh>	Meanwhile, at the hall of jus- I mean, with the rest of the group...
[22:11]	* [Gtz]Liliana	nudges Elludia
[22:11]	<[Gtz]Liliana>	Pst. Hey.
[22:11]	* [kiri]Kirsche	continue her music playing happily.
[22:12]	* [Kly]James	continues to walk, keeping an eye out for more dogs.
[22:13]	* [PB]Elludia	blinks out of her trance and looks at Liliana.
[22:13]	<[PB]Elludia>	What do you want?
[22:14]	* [Gtz]Liliana	pulls her close, away from wandering ears
[22:15]	<[Gtz]Liliana>	Do you think that old man put a spell on us or something? This is weird, you know. It's almost like my home village, but... It's not. I don't know how to explain it... It's like something out of a kid's fantasy story.
[22:17]	* [PB]Elludia	gave Liliana a deadpanned look, then shrugged nonchalantly.
[22:18]	<[PB]Elludia>	Well, who knows, as long as I'm alive I don't really care. Things goes weird so usually it's like a fact of life now.
[22:18]	* [kiri]Kirsche	turn back to the group.
[22:18]	<[kiri]Kirsche>	Hey. Any music request?
[22:19]	<[Gtz]Liliana>	agh, jeez... You may not be for long.
[22:19]	<[Kly]James>	Something upbeat, please.
[22:19]	<[kiri]Kirsche>	Alrighty~
[22:20]	<[PB]Elludia>	Hey, everyday we come closer to death, I know I'm going to die someday.
[22:20]	* [kiri]Kirsche	starts playing Russian infantry march, by flute. Don't know what is a Russian, though. That's the music's name.
[22:20]	<[Gtz]Liliana>	Maybe it's easy for you to shrug off, but I got kids to think about. And leaving them to the old man doesn't sit well with me, especially after he broke his arm.
[22:23]	* [PB]Elludia	slowed down from the walk, and sighed as she resumed her normal speed.
[22:23]	<[PB]Elludia>	I guess...
[22:23]	<[Gtz]Liliana>	Just keep an eye out, okay? Maybe I'm just being paranoid, but it's better to be safe than sorry.
[22:24]	* [Gtz]Liliana	steps away and resumes a normal pace.
[22:25]	* [kiri]Kirsche	stops playing music.
[22:25]	* [PB]Elludia	tightened her grip on her spear, but said nothing more.
[22:25]	* [kiri]Kirsche	sigh.
[22:25]	<[Gtz]Liliana>	Something wrong?
[22:26]	<[kiri]Kirsche>	Guess I failed again. You guys doesn't look cheerful.
[22:26]	<[kiri]Kirsche>	I'm a failure as an entertainer....
[22:26]	* [kiri]Kirsche	kick nearby pebble.
[22:27]	<[Kly]James>	Heh. Well, we weren't exactly expecting to end up wandering a dark forest. That would put a damper on anyone's mood.
[22:28]	<[Gtz]Liliana>	Aww, don't say that! I quite enjoy hearing you play, but what James says is true. This is very... strange.
[22:28]	<[kiri]Kirsche>	It is, indeed.
[22:28]	<[kiri]Kirsche>	You think something pulling us here?
[22:28]	<[PB]Elludia>	Who cares, keep walking.
[22:29]	<[kiri]Kirsche>	Well.... uh, we need to know why we're here. and more info is always good.
[22:29]	<[kiri]Kirsche>	So I'm asking around.
[22:29]	<[Gtz]Liliana>	I wish my kids could hear you play... When we get back to Nexus, could you play for us?
[22:30]	<[kiri]Kirsche>	Sure! I'd love to!
[22:32]	* [Gtz]Liliana	beams a grin
[22:32]	<[Gtz]Liliana>	That's great! I used to play a lot of music myself, you know. Maybe we can share a few songs later?
[22:33]	<[kiri]Kirsche>	Sure thing! I love people who appreciate good music!
[22:33]	<[kiri]Kirsche>	It's an art, I say!
[22:33]	<huh>	as you travel, the forst seems to be growing thinner, and the night sky becomes visible through the trees.
[22:33]	* [kiri]Kirsche	's fox companion, Mochi, growls.
[22:34]	<[kiri]Kirsche>	Hn? What is it, Mochi?
[22:34]	<[Kly]James>	Hmm. I still don't recognize this area...
[22:36]	<huh>	As you finally emerge from the forest, you find yourself on a grassy hill, running down into a large plain. You can see a running river to the West, and a dirt path runs North.
[22:37]	<[kiri]Kirsche>	now.... where to?
[22:38]	<[Kly]James>	Perhaps we should follow the road? It may lead us somewhere.
[22:38]	-->|	Wriggle ([email protected]) has joined #exalted
[22:38]	|<--	[PB]Elludia has left irc.rizon.net (Ping timeout: 240 seconds)
[22:38]	=-=	Wriggle is now known as [PB]Elludia
[22:39]	<[kiri]Kirsche>	Camping near water is better, I think. So we should go to the river.
[22:41]	<[Kly]James>	Camping? I suppose that it is getting a bit late, but...
[22:41]	<[Kly]James>	Or early? That might be a better term.
[22:42]	<[kiri]Kirsche>	well, your opinion, girls?
[22:42]	<[PB]Elludia>	I'll go with whatever.
[22:42]	* [Gtz]Liliana	stops for a moment and looks to the sky
[22:43]	<[Gtz]Liliana>	Wait...
[22:43]	<[Gtz]Liliana>	...Look. The stars... The sky is different from what I remember. It isn't just me, is it? Look. Where's Old Major and Old Mother?
[22:44]	<[kiri]Kirsche>	I dunno. but there's a music about starry sky. Heh. probably off-topic.
[22:45]	<[Gtz]Liliana>	Hey, um, Mister... James, what do you think?
[22:46]	<[Kly]James>	The sky? To be honest, I don't pay that much attention to it. But something does seem vaguely off, yes.
[22:47]	* [Gtz]Liliana	puts her hands on her hips and gives the group an exasperated look
[22:47]	<[Gtz]Liliana>	Haven't any of you ever looked up at night?
[22:48]	<[Gtz]Liliana>	Sigh... But yeah. something's definitely wrong here.
[22:48]	<[kiri]Kirsche>	so we can conclude that we are not where we supposed to be.
[22:49]	<[kiri]Kirsche>	and next thing we should do is get a good rest, and figure out what's wrong AFTER that.
[22:49]	<[kiri]Kirsche>	We're pretty tired, and somewhat.....drunk, maybe?
[22:49]	<[Gtz]Liliana>	If you guys want, go ahead, but I won't be able to sleep like this. I opt to follow the trail. If there's a path, there's people.
[22:51]	* [kiri]Kirsche	sigh.
[22:51]	* [PB]Elludia	slipped away silently, trying to find a place less noisy.
[22:51]	<[kiri]Kirsche>	well, that makes three. I can't just stay here alone, can I? Let's go.
[22:52]	<[kiri]Kirsche>	Ahhh... I wish I can ride you, Mochi.
[22:52]	* [kiri]Kirsche	's fox, Mochi, growls again.
[22:52]	* [Gtz]Liliana	takes the lead and continues along the trail
[22:53]	<[Kly]James>	I could... no, that might not be best. Let's go.
[22:54]	* [Kly]James	follows Liliana
[22:55]	* [kiri]Kirsche	hugs Liliana from behind.
[22:55]	<[kiri]Kirsche>	Carry meeee~ I'm tired~
[22:55]	<[Gtz]Liliana>	?!
[22:56]	* [Gtz]Liliana	gah.. you can't be that tired. Come on now, let me go.
[22:56]	<[kiri]Kirsche>	Kiddin'!
[22:56]	<huh>	Soon, you come upon farmland, and can see a village in the distance. Many of the fields seems to be growing such crops as rice and grain.
[22:56]	<[kiri]Kirsche>	Oh, A village!
[22:58]	<[Kly]James>	Wonderful. Let's try to find somewhere to stay for the night.
[22:58]	* [kiri]Kirsche	eyes sparkles.
[22:58]	<[kiri]Kirsche>	A village! that means, audience!
[22:59]	* [kiri]Kirsche	starts playing some fast-paced music.
[22:59]	<[Gtz]Liliana>	Darn, I wish it wasn't so late. I want to talk to somebody.
[22:59]	<huh>	At the entrance to the town, a guard stops you.
[22:59]	<huh>	"What business d'ya have here, fellas?"
[23:00]	<[kiri]Kirsche>	We seek a shelter for the night. And an audience for my performance!
[23:01]	<huh>	"And what of those weapons?"
[23:02]	<[kiri]Kirsche>	This is a flute, silly!
[23:02]	* [kiri]Kirsche	blow the musical instrument at him.
[23:04]	<[Gtz]Liliana>	Um... Yeah. These are for dangers we may have encountered on our journey. Is there a rule against weapons in this village? I apologize if we're walking over a known custom, but we're kind of lost.
[23:04]	* [Kly]James	nods.
[23:06]	<[kiri]Kirsche>	yes, we're lost~
[23:06]	<[kiri]Kirsche>	Can you help us, mister guard? Hn~?
[23:06]	<huh>	"No rule as such, but I'm just here to make sure no trouble gets in, y'understand. If you're from the outerlands, of course you're welcome, long as you don't cause a fuss. I'd advise against it, anyway, elsewise the priestess might have something to say to yeh."
[23:07]	<[Gtz]Liliana>	I see. Is there a village chief or intellectual in town I may speak to?
[23:07]	<huh>	"If you're lost, I can say you're right about found again. This is the central village."
[23:08]	<huh>	"As for a leader, yeh'll be lookin' for Miss Keine." He nods. "Fourth house on the left, can't miss it."
[23:09]	<[kiri]Kirsche>	Thanks, mister guard~
[23:09]	<[Gtz]Liliana>	Oh, thank you very much. Would she be up at this hour? I'd hate to intrude.
[23:10]	<huh>	"You never know with her. Sometimes she'll be asleep at dusk, sometimes awake all night, studying books, sometimes she'll up and disappear for days..."
[23:11]	<[Gtz]Liliana>	Is that so... One other thing. Is there an inn or public house around?
[23:12]	<huh>	"We don't get too many visitors, but there's one if you take the first right turn, at the end of the road."
[23:13]	* [Gtz]Liliana	looks to the others, to make sure they heard
[23:13]	* [kiri]Kirsche	nod
[23:13]	<[Gtz]Liliana>	Alright. I'm going to go see if the village Chief is around. You guys can go on without me, I'll catch up later.
[23:14]	* [Gtz]Liliana	turns to the guards and bows
[23:14]	<[Gtz]Liliana>	Thank you again.
[23:15]	* [Gtz]Liliana	continues on to the directions Mr. Guard gave her. Fourth house on the left...
[23:15]	<[kiri]Kirsche>	I'll leave that to you then.
[23:15]	* [kiri]Kirsche	head to the tavern. Audience!
[23:16]	<[Kly]James>	Chief? I'll come with you, if you don't mind. Intellectual curiosity.
[23:16]	<huh>	Kirsche: you realize that you don't know where the tavern is.
[23:16]	<[kiri]Kirsche>	= ="
[23:16]	* [Gtz]Liliana	skids to a halt
[23:16]	<[kiri]Kirsche>	Oh my.
[23:16]	<[Gtz]Liliana>	Oh, sure. Come along.
[23:16]	* [Kly]James	nods towards the guard
[23:16]	<[Kly]James>	And I thank you for your assistance.
[23:17]	* [kiri]Kirsche	wave at two of them heading that way.
[23:17]	<[kiri]Kirsche>	Hey, mister guard? Where's the tavern?
[23:18]	<huh>	He points, second building on the right.
[23:20]	<[kiri]Kirsche>	Thanks~
[23:20]	* [kiri]Kirsche	hopping happily, heading to the tavern.
[23:21]	<[Kly]James>	I'll see you in the morning, Kei. Have fun.
[23:27]	=-=	[PB]Elludia is now known as PaperBoy
[23:27]	=-=	PaperBoy is now known as [PB]Elludia
[23:31]	<[Gtz]Liliana>	Oh, wait!
[23:31]	* [Gtz]Liliana	turns around and hurries back to the guards
[23:32]	<huh>	"Yes?"
[23:32]	<[Gtz]Liliana>	If you see a sneaky looking girl carrying a spear with dark hair and light blue eyes, keep and eye on her... and your wallets. Gotta go, see ya!
[23:33]	* [Gtz]Liliana	darts off to catch up with James
[23:33]	<huh>	The guard nods. "Thanks, miss."
[23:40]	<huh>	Liliana: Keine seems to be home you can see light from the windows. The house is a bit larger than the others, and looks older.
[23:41]	<[Kly]James>	Ah... she seems to be home. Would you like to knock, Lily, or should I?
[23:44]	<[Gtz]Liliana>	Umm... sure.
[23:44]	* [Gtz]Liliana	steps up and knocks on the door.
[23:45]	* [Kly]James	stands behind her, a bit off to one side
[23:46]	<huh>	There's a sound of movement inside the house. Footsteps approach, and then the door opens. A young girl in red and white stands at the door. "What do you want?"
[23:47]	<[Gtz]Liliana>	Oh, pardon me for coming at this hour. I'd like to speak to a Miss...
[23:47]	* [Gtz]Liliana	looks at James
[23:48]	<[Gtz]Liliana>	...Keine? The men at the gate told me the Chief lives here. May I speak to her?
[23:52]	<huh>	"What business you got... ah, don't tell me you're more outsiders?"
[23:52]	* [Gtz]Liliana	looks at James again
[23:53]	<[Kly]James>	We are from outside the village, yes.
[23:53]	<[Gtz]Liliana>	Umm... Maybe. That's what the guards called us, and we certainly don't know where we are now.
[23:56]	<huh>	"Haa... more, huh? Today just keeps getting better..." She shakes her head. "Well then you'll want to come inside. Keine is in." She leads you into the house, towards a room in the back. "Ah, and, is this guy a friend of yours?" She motions inside the room, to where Marren is sleeping, a tallish woman in blue sitting in at a table to the left.
[23:56]	<[Gtz]Liliana>	more...
[23:57]	<[Gtz]Liliana>	No, I've never seen him before.
[23:58]	* [Kly]James	cranes his neck, trying to get a better look
[23:58]	<[Kly]James>	I... don't recognize this person, either.
[23:58]	<huh>	The girl looks deep in thought.
[00:02]	<[Gtz]Liliana>	You... mentioned "outsiders". Where are we? We were last in the city of Nexus, then woke up in the middle of a forest.
[00:04]	* [Kly]James	nods sagely.
[00:05]	<huh>	"Nexus? A city?" The girl doesn't comprehend, and looks at the lady, who must be Keine, who shakes sher head.
[00:06]	<[Gtz]Liliana>	Hm-hm. That's what I thought. Used to just live in a small village on the edge of the world... Then before I knew it, I was in a metropolis.
[00:07]	<[Kly]James>	I... see. Nexus is fairly famous, so we're either very far from civilization, or...