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fun fact! electrodynamix is the most popular song in newgrounds (3 mil views) also at the speed of light has 2 mil views2 points
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Starting (and keeping) A Business The Human Village is home to a number of shops, stalls and storefronts. When thinking of these however, do not be fooled into thinking of larger stores in the Outside World. Places like Wal-Mart or 7/11 would have little potential in the Human Village, and most trades you are likely to know will have no interest in the Humans here. Fortunately, Otherworldly Ventures Inc. is willing to help you open your own business in Gensokyo. The first step is to enroll in the Heida Temple School. While English is preferred as a trade languages between merchants, Japanese is the predominant language of your likely customers. Additionally, you will want to take vocational training in the occupation you want to pursue. Our partnership with Heida Temple School insures interested Outsiders can pursue apprenticeships with farmers and craftsmen. Think hard over who your target demographic is, how often you will sell your product to them, and how you can make your product more appealing to them. And how you can make them buy it more frequently. Once you near the end of your apprenticeship, you want to produce some examples of the items you'll be making and try to sell them. This will give you an idea of their demand in the Village. Don't be discouraged if few people buy them, your skills will improve over time. After finishing your Apprenticeship, you can take these examples of your produce and sales, before applying for a loan from Otherworldly Ventures Inc (annual interest rate of 7.50% for any businesses which apply). While your instinct may be to pursue a large storefront, it may be best to start with a small, mobile stall as you scope out the best location for sales and earn money to improve your business. Advertising can be pursued in a number of ways, from hiring a town crier to advertise your store to a leaflet campaign. Lastly, being part of the Otherworldly Ventures Inc. umbrella means you will have access to partnerships with other shops beneath us. You may receive coupons from Dr. Bintara's clinic to hand out to elderly shoppers, or be able to collaborate with the Normal Human Blacksmithy to make a special item to sell at your store. Your shop will grow as far and as fast as you are willing to push it! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= "This is my assistant and companion, Agappa Harume. Though her friends call her Agappa-chan" Oscar said, still trying to keep his composed demeanor. And trying not to ask himself again who would willingly consider themselves her friend. One hand gestured to his side kindly. A smile playing at his face. "Say hello to Marisa, Agappa-chan." The Mikari-Baba's body remained still, as if she could not hear him. Still hunched, with the Mon coin between her fingers. A light seemed to form in Agappa’s visible eye, before she sat up. The simple Mon slipping from her. The crowd of children stared mesmerized, even as the members of Team 9 huddled together, covering faces and ears with their hands or kimonos. It was only as she began to speak, that Marisa’s expression shifted. “Behind smiling eyes In wandering hokora, Lonely mother weeps As Sun rises and Moon sets, In regret, spirits linger Shining witch tries to forget.” There was no sadness in Agappa’s voice. Nor was there any cruel joy or even her familiar apathy. Only a calm, solemn voice as if she were pronouncing she had witnessed her own doom. The crowd said nothing. They didn’t even seem to breathe. Marisa just stared, all trace of her previous excitement gone. Her face was bare of emotion now. No wait, there was a twitch in her cheek. Her thin arms rose, slamming down on the makeshift table in front of her. The pottery piece shattering underneath the weight, though neither took any notice of it. Marisa's eyes were locked with Agappa's, level across the 'desk' they were seated on either side of. "How do you know who I am? How do you know about my teacher? What do you mean 'wandering hokora'? TALK, CREEP!" Agappa's eyes shifted again. Returning to their natural shape. Her eyelids fluttered, then blinked as she returned to the present. "Yes, Ningen? May I help you?" "You can help me by telling me about what you just said, ze! How do you know about me? How do you know about her? Why did you say it like it was a poem?" Agappa stared for a moment. Her mouth ajar, as it was usually when confronted by a strange. Before her yellow-coated shoulders simply gave a faint shrug. Whatever Marisa was hoping for, it was the wrong move. Reaching for her side, she pulled out a small cylindrical device. Which clicked and twisted as she held it in front of her. "You're a Youkai, aren't you? You know I could beat the answers I want out of you and no one would stop me, ze!" "You are right." "Then tell me how you know about my mo--my teacher! Where is she?" "..." The mute stare returned, Agappa's shoulders rolling with the same familiar shrug. Though her eyes remained closed as she took a slow breath. "Tayata Om Bekanze Bekanze Maha Bekanze Radza Samudgate Soha." The look in Marisa's eyes didn't recede. Her teeth grit down on one another. Her eyes shimmering with anger she scarcely restrained. "You've got a lot of nerve. Are ya tryin' to start trouble with me?" "No." "Then...why would you say that?" "Healing." Oscar's first hint that things were about to get worse was his friends. Cirno, Daiyousei, Mystia and Wriggle remained in place. A mass of kimono sleeves and cheap wigs as they each tried to shield one another. Cirno was at the front of the group, the other three clutched in her arms, though even she didn't have the courage to watch what was happening. Was this how they reacted to all Danmakus? The crowds of children were less fearful. But there was an air of clear apprehension in the air. One only Oscar could stop. The question was...how? =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= = Team 9 was so scared of Agappa they refused to talk to her. Maybe exaggerating what she is capable of will convince Marisa to back off? = Promise to investigate Agappa's strange poem. A wizard as great as you could figure out the answer in a month. = Suggest the two have a Danmaku duel...as you mess with Marisa's reagents while she's distracted. = GET DOWN MISS WITCH! There are more Youkai here!0 points
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“Well, would you like your dignity still intact, or shall I reveal your darkest desire?” I respond to her ultimatum. “Wha’ kinda threa’ is tha’? Now I’m curious wha’ you can re’eal, miss”, that leader of the bandits says. Which is amazing, because that means I get more perspective on the vindication. But it’s still easy to underestimate the scale of the vengeance… Entering what I call the Abyss, a black expanse stretching out to infinity with flames of one of three colours scattered around the landscape, I see eight flames. The heat coming from all of them are enough to cook me, though I don't plan on staying here for much longer. A red flame appears to be the vengeance of the leader of the bandits, so I touch that one to see who she despises. Shortly after, a cell lays before me. That person is locked inside the cell, while one who I can only assume to be the victim stands just outside the cell with a parchment in his hands. “Nelly of York, I needn’t remind you why you are here, do I?” The human says with a piercing stare. Nelly merely grunts in response. “Good, then allow me to finally give you your final sentence as decreed by our Queen and saviour of Gensokyo: You are to be put to death by virtue of a spear”, he relays. “When?” Nelly asks. “According to the sentence, in four days,” the victim says as he phases through the bars of the cell, a sure sign that we’ve diverged from what actually happened, “But I can hasten that, if you so wish.” Nelly proceeds to knock him out as the cell transform into that torture chamber I have become all too familiar with. She begins by not nailing, but screwing him to the Scarlet’s family insignia. Two screws in the palms and two in the farthest reaches of the feet, so he has to stretch for as long as he will be alive in this vision. Next, she beat him, barehanded, while saying: “The Queen is more forgiving than that, I just stole a dozen apples.” I could ascertain how much of that sentence is true, but that would be a waste of mana. Also, those blows reverberate across the room three times, as she picks up a pot, throws some mice in there, presses it against his stomach and sets the pot ablaze. Which is a form of torture I don't typically see in these flames, as they're either too weak to warrant a death or too strong to allow people to die. After the mice dug their way through the poor soul, she commits her last act of vengeance; surgically removing his heart before throwing it into a dump. It is that corpse that I show to the bandits, who are rightfully disgusted by what just appeared in front of them. “Who is… wait, him?” Nelly, taken aback, proclaims as she struggles to understand her emotions upon seeing him. The other bandits look at her in disbelief, which is my chance to escape. Bye-bye, whatever happens next is not my problem. Now to find the carava– “Hey, you, the lady in black!” Or it can find me… “I’m someone from Otherworldly Ventures the ruler of these lands hired to help refugees. So, is there something I can help you with? Especially because you just ran a good 500 meters.” the merchant on the caravan greets. Otherworldly Ventures? I don’t have the employee card with me, as I left it at home, but they’re usually a trustworthy bunch if you’ve proven yourself. Well, I’m actually pretty close to my destination, just two more kilometers further, but a ride wouldn’t hurt and we can utilize the caravan to speed up should bandits approach. “While I can march the distance, may I take a ride to my destination?” I ask. “Is it to Scarlet Castle Town?” “No, but it is in the direction of that place.” “Then you’re accepted, as long as you tell me where exactly it is you’re headed.” “Underground, towards what used to be Hell.” “…Come sit with me”, he commands, intrigued. Considering that the other nation responsible for the Nuclear Reactor does not have a good relationship with Otherworldly Ventures, at least from what I can tell, I should make it seem like I used their services out of necessity. Though… Satori’s going to get a visit from them sooner rather than later, now that they know it exists. “May I know about that place?” he asks when I sat down. “Well, the fact that it is my home should be enough to compensate for the ride, no?” “You know of that axiom?” he says with a curiosity that cannot be fake. “You’re not the first OV person I met, that’s all”, I answer, calmer than him. “Then who was the first employee? Was it the CEO of the company?” he pries with an overwhelming amount of enthusiasm. “…Information is a resource like any other, treat it with the respect it deserves”, I eventually articulate, though I nearly said the truth out of wonder for his absolute wonder at everything. “…Right, you may ask a question, then”, he gives as a form of apology. What’ll I do with that question, then? \------------------------------------------/ HP: 144 MP: 26 (-22) No crippled body parts New Items and/or Equipment: Nothing Ask about the land. → A healthy exchange about Gensokyo goes plenty far and keeps his nose out of the business of the Underworld. Query about Otherworldly Ventures and the Scarlet Empire. → Dig for information on them. Appraise him. → Let us see how much value he places on himself compared to what he is actually worth. pry about the CEO of Otherworldly Ventures. → He certainly idolizes him, but how much does he know? A catnap won’t hurt, now would it? → Though asking for a rest must have some good reasoning behind it.0 points