Kisume Quest IV - A Z-Machine Adventure

[Kilgamayan]

> Follow into the same alley, or whatever it is he vanished into.

[Hello Purvis]

> Follow into the same alley, or whatever it is he vanished into.

>You follow him around the corner, and down into a somewhat poorly maintained side road between the two wooden buildings. He has gained a fair deal of distance on you, you realize he can slow and turn more effectively than you can.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> How far apart are we?
> Where does this road lead?

[Hello Purvis]

> How far apart are we?
> Where does this road lead?

>He's gained a few yards on you from before.
>This road runs the length of the two buildings, barns you think, and then comes to an end at another building. You get the feeling there aren't properly planned roads here so much as buildings being made where there's space.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> So this is a dead end?

[Hello Purvis]

> So this is a dead end?

>No, it seems more like an intersection. The building ahead isn't pressed up against the ones you're currently flying between, there is a small road between them.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Nothing for it, then. Keep giving chase.

[Hello Purvis]

> Nothing for it, then. Keep giving chase.

>You keep following him. As he reaches the end of the road, he takes a left turn, heading westward. Now that you know this is coming, you should be able to match him without losing too much ground.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Damnit, man, head near the tavern so we can get some help!
> Follow to the west when we approach the intersection.

[Hello Purvis]

> Damnit, man, head near the tavern so we can get some help!
> Follow to the west when we approach the intersection.

>You curse him, and follow him westward.
>As you round the corner, you see the the front of the barn you had been running around to your left, and a road that dead ends into the back of a house some distance ahead. To your right you see another storage house, and what like a reasonably new grainery beyond it. You see no sign of the man you were chasing.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Given how far apart we were, is it possible he took another turn or entered a door before we got to the turn?

[Hello Purvis]

> Given how far apart we were, is it possible he took another turn or entered a door before we got to the turn?

>You think both are plausible.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Are there any doors obviously open? Surely we would have heard a door close if he went that way.

[Hello Purvis]

> Are there any doors obviously open? Surely we would have heard a door close if he went that way.

>The barn on your left has a door that is hanging open. You cannot see the door on the building to your right. The grainery's door is closed, while the door of the house up ahead is not visible.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Enter the barn.

[Hello Purvis]

> Enter the barn.

>You float into the barn. Inside, it is rather dingy, but this is no problem  for you. You note the floor is dirt, old and compact. Animal stalls rest against the eastern wall, hanging open at the moment. There is a large stack of straw along the rear of the barn, as well as larges bales of what you assume is animal fodder. The northern part of the barn has a few spare farming tools hanging from pegs on the wall, while the floor there has old gouges in it that suggest largish things have been resting there.
>You are breathing a bit heavily; it's nice to have a moment to rest up.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> No sign of the guy?
> If not, take another couple of moments to catch a breath, then leave the barn and head skyward to look around the area.

[Hello Purvis]

> No sign of the guy?
> If not, take another couple of moments to catch a breath, then leave the barn and head skyward to look around the area.

>You see no immediate signs of him.
>You take a few moments to catch your breath, which isn't as pleasant as it could be inside a place that smells like farm animals live in it, then depart and head skyward.
>Looking down on the area, you don't see anyone running particularly fast, nor do any men in farmer's clothing with silvery hair jump out at you. You do note there is one silvery-haired woman in a blue dress flying over the village, and who begins to soar toward you as you look around for the man in farmer's clothes.
>"What's going on here?" she calls out. "I heard you were chasing a thief?"

>_

[GuyYouMetOnline]

>"I am. Male, silver hair, dressed like a farmer."
>Point to where we just were.
>"I lost him down there. He evaded me in the alleys, or maybe ducked into a building."
>"You offering to help catch him?"

[Hello Purvis]

>"I am. Male, silver hair, dressed like a farmer."
>Point to where we just were.
>"I lost him down there. He evaded me in the alleys, or maybe ducked into a building."
>"You offering to help catch him?"

>"I am offering to help deal with this," she says, as she draws closer. She is frowning, and you don't quite like the look in her eyes. Something about her looks vaguely familiar, though you're certain you'd remember someone wearing an odd, squarish hat like hers. "What's going on, what did he steal?"

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "It's a complicated story.  He didn't actually steal anything from me, but he did steal those clothes he's wearing, at least."

[Hello Purvis]

> "It's a complicated story.  He didn't actually steal anything from me, but he did steal those clothes he's wearing, at least."

>"You understand that I'm going to take a dim view on  randomizing terrorizing people in the village," she says, as she starts to look downward. "Maybe you should tell me an uncomplicated version of things?"

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Yeah, yeah, I know. Listen, that guy showed up underground and started running willy-nilly all over the Ancient City. Caused havoc everywhere, because that's what happens when you're a human and you decide to cavort around a village full of oni for no apparent reason. I asked the harvest goddess why one of her farmers was causing chaos underground, and after describing him to her, she didn't have a clue who he was. She sure seemed worried about potential backlash and oni coming topside to look for this guy, though."

[Hello Purvis]

> "Yeah, yeah, I know. Listen, that guy showed up underground and started running willy-nilly all over the Ancient City. Caused havoc everywhere, because that's what happens when you're a human and you decide to cavort around a village full of oni for no apparent reason. I asked the harvest goddess why one of her farmers was causing chaos underground, and after describing him to her, she didn't have a clue who he was. She sure seemed worried about potential backlash and oni coming topside to look for this guy, though."

>"Hm, if it's as you say," says the woman, "Then it would be most irregular. Is that him?"
>She points downward. Below, you can see an old-looking human with a hoe slung over his shoulder, walking past a house on the road you were on, before he made his first turn.

>-

[Kilgamayan]

> Do the hair, skin tone, and clothes match?

[Hello Purvis]

> Do the hair, skin tone, and clothes match?

>His skin tone kind of matches, but not really his hair or clothes. Or his age or posture, for that matter.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Shake head.
> "The skin tone's similar, but the hair and clothes don't match. My guy's also a bit younger, and really athletic. I was gassed just before you showed up, but he looked just fine."

[Hello Purvis]

> Shake head.
> "The skin tone's similar, but the hair and clothes don't match. My guy's also a bit younger, and really athletic. I was gassed just before you showed up, but he looked just fine."

>"I see," she says. "Where did you lose him?"

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Just here, turning into this alley. That barn was the first place I checked for him."

[Hello Purvis]

> "Just here, turning into this alley. That barn was the first place I checked for him."

>She nods. "Maybe he went the other way, or around the barn?"

>_