scary monsters ~endless halloween night~ 3-6 "anything goes"

[mandytl]

 

 

Location: The Other Dimension - Hollow Graveyard

Riddle: Oh? There’s a little building over yonder. A mausoleum, perhaps? 

Ortho: Very suspect. Maybe the ghost who ran from us is hiding inside!

Ruggie: The place looks wide open. A quick look couldn’t hurt.

They step inside into darkness.

Everyone: Huh?!

Location: The Other Dimension - Haunted Ghost Town

Riddle: I could’ve sworn we’d stepped into a building and not… straight back outside?!

For present purposes, I suppose we can conclude the door was connected to another space entirely.

Ruggie: It even vanished to boot. Anything goes in the Ghost realm, I guess.

Ortho: Oh, a gate! Let’s go check it out.

Pans away.

Riddle: The tiny homes here are too scattered for it to be a village of sorts.

Ortho: Plus they’re all beat-up and on the verge of collapse… 

… I hope Yuu-san and Grim-san are okay.

Riddle: Yes… They’re very much on my mind as well.

Ruggie: Sure it’s not just the broken-down buildings that’s got you thinking ‘bout them?

Not that they don’t all look kinda like Ramshackle, I mean—all shabby and empty and… gasp!

Get a look at that, guys! There, in the plaza down the street.

Ghost A: Shards… Wherever could our shards be…? 

Ghost B: We’ve got to find and deliver them to Our Esteemed Host this instant!

Ortho: There are so many ghosts gathered in one place… 

Riddle: It appears they’re searching for shards of the mirror much like we are.

Very well! We’ll begin by subduing them for questioning, and then—

Ruggie: HOLD IT!

No way we’ll hold out if we go chargin’ one by one into who knows how many ghosts!

Ortho: Ruggie Bucchi-san’s got a point. 

We can’t cast our magic willy-nilly, and my battery’s limited charge won’t last forever.

A doctrine of minimum force will increase not only our chances of survival, but Nii-san and the others’, too.

Riddle: I see what you’re getting at. … Here's what we’ll do, then.

Our primary objective is to search for a link to the mastermind of this crime.

Namely, one of those mirror shards that were outlined in the invitation.

Thus, we ought to steer clear of pointless battles with empty-handed ghosts.

All we have to do is discover one before they do.

Conserving energy where possible while we seek out the party is key.

By doing this, we’ll cut off the evil at its source.

Ortho: Okay! That way we can disrupt anyone who’s looking for shards.

Riddle: Now, let’s begin our search through this forsaken village.

Ruggie: Roger that!

Riddle: … What’s got you grinning ear-to-ear- for, Ruggie?

Ruggie: Shishishi. I mean, we’re goin’ on a treasure hunt in some ruins. Who wouldn’t be stoked?

Besides, hidden treasure’s, like, essential in a place like this.

Riddle: Treasure?

This place is in ruins. Anything you covet here will surely fall short of your expectations.

Ruggie: Ohhh, come on, Riddle-kun. Don’t you get it? This is every kid’s dream! 

Riddle: D-Dream? 

Ruggie: Yep! Decrepit graveyards, abandoned museums, filthy swamps, deserted villages…

All those dreary places are like gateways to cities of gold!!

Ortho: Ohh. Are you guys talking about treasure hunting?

My big brother plays these adventure games where you’re a treasure hunter.

It’s super fun! You do stuff like gather hints, form a party, and even wander through seas, forests, and deserts.

Ruggie: Yeah, somethin’ along those lines, with the heroes sailing off with their stash… Ugh. I envy ‘em.

When I was a kid, we swapped a comic around the neighborhood that had a similar story. I wanted it to be real so bad.

That “no way it’d ever be in a place like this” mindset’s gonna steer us clear of the road to the treasure!

Riddle: Are you sure? I’m not entirely convinced… 

Ruggie: Standin’ around brooding won’t get this ball rolling! Let’s hit that house with the beat-up roof! 

Ghost C: GYAAAH!

Riddle: T-There are ghosts inside these houses?!

Ghost C: H-How dare you barge into a lady’s home uninvited.

Ruggie: You actually live here?!

Ghost C: Burglars! Perverts! SCOUNDRELS! I won’t tolerate it!