Nue Quest Vth Vanguard: A Z-Machine Adventure

[Hello Purvis]

> "Good. I think it's worth our time for the three of us to talk before our point girl gets here."

>Mokou nods and nudges the door open with an elbow. "Hey," she says inside, "Nue's here. She wants to talk with you."
>"Be right there," come Byakuren's voice from inside.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Wait for Byakuren to emerge from the store.

[Hello Purvis]

> Wait for Byakuren to emerge from the store.

>She ducks under the door frame a moment later, closing the door behind her.
>"So," says Mokou, "What're we talking about?"

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "I've come back from the mountain. Didn't get to the Moriya Shrine, but I managed to talk to a goddess in the forest at the foot of the shrine, who had some interesting things to say. We have plans on place to stop Rinnosuke physically."
> Tilt our head in Mokou's direction while saying that last sentence.
> "But we should probably also try to stop him spiritually. The physical route will knock his down; the spiritual route may keep his plan from ever getting back up."

[Hello Purvis]

> "I've come back from the mountain. Didn't get to the Moriya Shrine, but I managed to talk to a goddess in the forest at the foot of the shrine, who had some interesting things to say. We have plans on place to stop Rinnosuke physically."
> Tilt our head in Mokou's direction while saying that last sentence.
> "But we should probably also try to stop him spiritually. The physical route will knock his down; the spiritual route may keep his plan from ever getting back up."

>"What do you propose?" says Byakuren.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "The goddess proposed finding an ideal that trumps his ideal, and someone with a lot of faith in that ideal."

[Hello Purvis]

> "The goddess proposed finding an ideal that trumps his ideal, and someone with a lot of faith in that ideal."

>Byakuren nods. "Go on."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "So we need an ideal that trumps the ideal of 'the beauty of exchange.' Do either of you have any ideas in that regard?"

[Hello Purvis]

> "So we need an ideal that trumps the ideal of 'the beauty of exchange.' Do either of you have any ideas in that regard?"

>"Perhaps creation?" says Byakuren.
>"If you're gonna get a merchant's goat," says Mokou, "I found the best way to do it is to bankrupt him. That count?"

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Both interesting ideas. I think that bankrupting him would be difficult given the current situation, but swindling runs along similar lines, and I think we might be able to pull that off with some preparation."
> "As for creation, do we know anyone spiritual with the power of creation?"

[Hello Purvis]

> "Both interesting ideas. I think that bankrupting him would be difficult given the current situation, but swindling runs along similar lines, and I think we might be able to pull that off with some preparation."
> "As for creation, do we know anyone spiritual with the power of creation?"

>"What kind of creation?" says Mokou. "And what do you mean by spiritual power, while we're at it. Anyone can make stuff, right?"

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Hmm. How much did Byakuren tell you about the details of why this is actually happening?"

[Hello Purvis]

> "Hmm. How much did Byakuren tell you about the details of why this is actually happening?"

>"Not a whole lot, really," says Mokou. "Something about Morichika using trade like power, and building up enough to cause a ruckus."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "That's the gist of it, yeah. He believes that trading makes magic energy. This isn't true, but he's so dedicated to the idea that his faith in the idea is actually starting to warp reality so it is true. His faith is what's causing this whole mess, which is why we may need to find a faith that trumps his to cut it off for good."

[Hello Purvis]

> "That's the gist of it, yeah. He believes that trading makes magic energy. This isn't true, but he's so dedicated to the idea that his faith in the idea is actually starting to warp reality so it is true. His faith is what's causing this whole mess, which is why we may need to find a faith that trumps his to cut it off for good."

>"Don't know anyone like that," says Mokou. "Well, except maybe the shrine maidens."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Patchouli doesn't seem to think they'll be able to stop this. And, to be totally honest, I know they have their faith, but I don't know if their ideals would be specifically suited for trumping his."
> Turn to Byakuren.

[Hello Purvis]

> "Patchouli doesn't seem to think they'll be able to stop this. And, to be totally honest, I know they have their faith, but I don't know if their ideals would be specifically suited for trumping his."
> Turn to Byakuren.

>"Yeah, probably," says Mokou. "Don't know about the new one, but Reimu's probably not much good as lazy as she is."
>You turn to Byakuren. She frowns a little. "You seem to be implying that I could," she says.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "I think it's possible, yeah. I admit I don't know the specifics of faith, but I've been thinking about what might trump the beauty of exchange, and I wonder if it couldn't be trumped by the beauty of giving. And, well, you're the best combination of spiritual and giving that I know."

[Hello Purvis]

> "I think it's possible, yeah. I admit I don't know the specifics of faith, but I've been thinking about what might trump the beauty of exchange, and I wonder if it couldn't be trumped by the beauty of giving. And, well, you're the best combination of spiritual and giving that I know."

>"I had not considered that," says Byakuren. "That is a good point, but...what would I give him?"

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Frown.
> "That's the hangup with that plan. I don't know."

[Hello Purvis]

> Frown.
> "That's the hangup with that plan. I don't know."

>Byakuren nods. "The only things I could think of, in the end, would hinder our efforts."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Then maybe we should revisit it once we've put a stop to the immediate concern."

[Hello Purvis]

> "Then maybe we should revisit it once we've put a stop to the immediate concern."

>Byakuren nods. "That may be worth examining."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Turn back to Mokou.
> "Now, before this gets done, has this guy ever done any favors for you?"

[Hello Purvis]

> Turn back to Mokou.
> "Now, before this gets done, has this guy ever done any favors for you?"

>"Naw," she says. "Just bought some stuff every so often."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Okay, good. I suspect that he won't be able to force you into working for him, then."

[Hello Purvis]

> "Okay, good. I suspect that he won't be able to force you into working for him, then."

>"I'd hope so," says Mokou.
>You see two figures approaching from the south. Renko is easy enough to discern, and Cirno is not hard to pick out once you note her icy wings.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "We're all hoping so."
> Grin.
> "But you don't seem the easily-swayed type, so I think we'll be okay."
> Give a wave in Renko and Cirno a wave while speaking.

[Hello Purvis]

> "We're all hoping so."
> Grin.
> "But you don't seem the easily-swayed type, so I think we'll be okay."
> Give a wave in Renko and Cirno a wave while speaking.

>"Well you got me here," says Mokou with a shrug.
>You wave to the oncomers. Renko waves back, as she lands in front of the store. She nods toward the white-haired woman, saying "Miss Mokou."
>"Kid," says Mokou as she returns the gesture.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Wow, that didn't take long, getting that weight upright."