Nue Quest Alter Code 6: A Z-Machine Adventure

[Kilgamayan]

> "Catch you both later."
> Take flight and zoom up after Byakuren.

[Hello Purvis]

> "Catch you both later."
> Take flight and zoom up after Byakuren.

>"Alright," says Renko., as she starts down the road.
>"Hey, I'll be at the schoolhouse later if you need anything!" Mokou calls, as you depart.
>You follow behind Byakuren as she makes her way northward toward the village. She then veers southward, skirting around the edge of it, until she approaches the temple from behind. Soon, she lands close to it and proceeds there on foot.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Let's give her a minute, juuuuuust in case.
> Make our way toward Ichiro's.

[Hello Purvis]

> Let's give her a minute, juuuuuust in case.
> Make our way toward Ichiro's.

>You decide to head toward the jewelry store while Byakuren makes her way toward the temple. A few more drops of rain hit you as you fly toward it over the empty back roads of the town, you doubt the storm is going to hold out for long. Glancing toward the main square, you can see the bulk of the population is still there, though you think the crowd has thinned out a bit. In the distance, far to the south, you notice the gray wedge-shaped thing soaring across the sky. Glancing down toward the jewelry store, you notice that it is about the same as you've always left it.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> How strange. Gonna have to investigate that wedge at some point.
> ...And give it a good thrashing for almost killing us.
> Alight in front of the jewelry store.

[Hello Purvis]

> How strange. Gonna have to investigate that wedge at some point.
> ...And give it a good thrashing for almost killing us.
> Alight in front of the jewelry store.

>That thing is getting a little annoying...
>You land in front of the store, and find that it is open. Looking through the window, you can see Shuuei is sitting at the table in the corner, while Ichiro looms over her.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> What are they doing?

[Hello Purvis]

> What are they doing?

>You can't tell for certain, but you suspect Ichiro is observing Shuuei at work.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> So is it more or less a "do not disturb" situation?

[Hello Purvis]

> So is it more or less a "do not disturb" situation?

>You aren't certain, but it would be a good idea to tread lightly.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Does the door have a mail slot?

[Hello Purvis]

> Does the door have a mail slot?

>There are no holes or slots or anything in the door.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Best leave them alone for the time being, then. Shuuei's still potentially very useful, and it wouldn't due to upset her.
> Head back out to the main road of the village. See if we can spot Mystia or anyone from the temple.

[Hello Purvis]

> Best leave them alone for the time being, then. Shuuei's still potentially very useful, and it wouldn't due to upset her.
> Head back out to the main road of the village. See if we can spot Mystia or anyone from the temple.

>You decide to leave them alone, and head toward the main road.
>As you approach the crowd, you note people are still largely broken up into little groups. A few are leaving through various ways as you come; probably in anticipation of the coming rain. YOu see others staying under roof overhangs, and some carrying umbrellas. The general tone of the crowd is hard to determine, some parts sounds  upset and others sound weary.  You can see Ichirin moving among the crowd some distance away, and you think you can pick out Mystia's hat  in a crowd on the eastern part of the intersection.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Make our way over to Mystia's hat.

[Hello Purvis]

> Make our way over to Mystia's hat.

>You make your way over toward Mystia's hat, which you see is indeed connected to the night sparrow youkai.  You also notice quite a few people staring at you along the way. As near as you can tell, she's listening to a well-dressed human tell some kind of indignant-sounding story about something or other, nodding along with the tale. She looks over as you approach, and her eyes widen. "You look like that bear!" she exclaims, drawing several people from that group to look towards her, then toward you.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> We do? Didn't we ditch that hair already?

[Hello Purvis]

> We do? Didn't we ditch that hair already?

>You do. Byakuren interrupted you, and you started conversing with her. Then you never got back to dealing with it.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Take at glance down at our limbs.
> "Oh. Fancy that."
> Finish ditching the hair.

[Hello Purvis]

> Take at glance down at our limbs.
> "Oh. Fancy that."
> Finish ditching the hair.

>You set yourself to fixing up your hair. Will you be leaving your other changes intact?
>"Are you alright?" Mystia asks, frowning. "You look like someone just rolled you down a mountain."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Nah, let's revert back to regular glorious us.
> "It's a complicated story, but yeah, I'm fine. How did things go here?"

[Hello Purvis]

> Nah, let's revert back to regular glorious us.
> "It's a complicated story, but yeah, I'm fine. How did things go here?"

>You work to restore yourself properly, while Mystia separates from the group to join you.
>"Um, nothing big," says Mystia. "People kinda wondered where Byakuren went, but they seemed to accept it was an emergency. Everyone's just kind of irritated now, and I think some are just getting worn out by the whole thing. The rain isn't helping."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Hah. Good for you, Biggun, you've been in this village for all of three or four years with a full-youkai 'staff' and you're already the town's rock.
> "Yeah, sorry about needing to drag her away. She's back now, though. How did your trip to the jeweler's go?"

[Hello Purvis]

> Hah. Good for you, Biggun, you've been in this village for all of three or four years with a full-youkai 'staff' and you're already the town's rock.
> "Yeah, sorry about needing to drag her away. She's back now, though. How did your trip to the jeweler's go?"

>She really has wormed her way into the hearts of the people, hasn't she?
>Mystia digs into a dress pocket, as she says, "He took the news rather well. Apparently he wasn't surprised that you found it, and said he respected your professional courtesy in having me tell him.
>She produces your bracelet and offers it to you.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Thanks."
> Take our bracelet and put it back on.
> "Ichiro's a good man. I figured he might appreciate it. What about Shuuei?"

[Hello Purvis]

> "Thanks."
> Take our bracelet and put it back on.
> "Ichiro's a good man. I figured he might appreciate it. What about Shuuei?"

>You obtain: Black Bracelet
>"That apprentice of his?" says Mystia. "She was quiet most of the time, asked if you were alright or needed help. I told her you had friends and stuff."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Well, imagine that. She thought to ask. We're even greater than we thought we were.
> Nod.
> "Yep. Got here fine."
> Grin.
> "Can't say as much for the other guy."

[Hello Purvis]

> Well, imagine that. She thought to ask. We're even greater than we thought we were.
> Nod.
> "Yep. Got here fine."
> Grin.
> "Can't say as much for the other guy."

>"Good," Mystia says, with a dark undertone.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "He's actually here. Over at the temple, presumably. Last I saw Byakuren, she was walking back toward the temple and not struggling with him. Think she's brewing something up to keep him out for a while longer."

[Hello Purvis]

> "He's actually here. Over at the temple, presumably. Last I saw Byakuren, she was walking back toward the temple and not struggling with him. Think she's brewing something up to keep him out for a while longer."

>Mystia nods. "I hope you gave him a good one."

>_