Nue Quest 7 - Serpent Isle: A Z-Machine Adventure

[Hello Purvis]

> Frown again, then shrug, stand back up and turn to Koa.
> "I guess that's that, then, if they can't admit when they're the problem. If the doctor from Eientei comes by, let her through. She's with me on request. I'm gonna go check on Patchouli and relay some important info I recently learned. Then we can set into figuring out how to redistribute everyone's money."

>"Yeah, we totally messed up, not letting in a known troublemaker with a sterling personality during an incident," says Hatate.
>"She's not gotten here yet," says the Bat-winged youkai. "Buuuut, we did find something you might find interesting. I figured out what your sword says!"

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Oh really now? Neat. What's it say?"

[Hello Purvis]

> "Oh really now? Neat. What's it say?"

>"So, it's written in some weird language," says the shifting her position a bit and making Hatate grunt. "Patchy said it was Corn. So I guess some plant people made it? Anyways, the word's a weird one that doesn't translate well. I think 'Yield' is probably the closest we'd get, but it's not right. It's like commanding someone to listen to whoever's saying it in one word. It's fancy language, I think, no so much 'Do what I say' as 'Yield and obey me.' You get what I'd saying?"

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "...Actually, you know, I think I know exactly what you mean. That would certainly explain some things. If I can figure out how to put it back together...huh."
> Recall that dream: Where were we when the sword was whole, aside from underground?

[Hello Purvis]

> "...Actually, you know, I think I know exactly what you mean. That would certainly explain some things. If I can figure out how to put it back together...huh."
> Recall that dream: Where were we when the sword was whole, aside from underground?

>The demon nods. "Good. Hope it helped!"
>You don't think that part of the dream really corresponded to any real place in the city. Maybe some part of the market? It's fuzzy now...

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> What about the part after underground? We were somewhere in a forest.
> "It does. Be back in a bit."
> Head downstairs.

[Hello Purvis]

> What about the part after underground? We were somewhere in a forest.
> "It does. Be back in a bit."
> Head downstairs.

>You didn't recognize it. But you knew, in that way that you know things you shouldn't in dreams, that it was somewhere in the southwest part of the Forest of Magic. You suspect it would be beyond where Tewi was hiding.
>"Kay," says the youkai.
>"Will you stop wriggling like that?" says Hatate.
>"Kay, I'll do it like this," says the youkai to her prisoner as you leave the room.
>You move into the next room, and find it is unchanged. Between you, Mokou, Byakuren, and the rest, the dust has been kicked around so much it's impossible to see where it was originally in all but the far corners. Descending down the stairs and into the basement, you find the room has warmed up significantly. Much of the ice is still present on the floor, but that which is on the ceiling seems to have fallen off, while some of it coating the walls has fallen away, as well. It's still cold enough to make you shiver a little, but it's definitely warming up bit by bit. The huge piles of coins are still there, gleaming and taunting you.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Eh, why not?
> Float over to the nearest one and try to reach out to touch it.

[Hello Purvis]

> Eh, why not?
> Float over to the nearest one and try to reach out to touch it.

>You try to touch a pile of coins, and have the same reaction as last time. It doesn't seem like your fingers are getting any closer.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

Going to bed. Still need to tell Koakuma about the new threat Rinnosuke poses. Even if she hasn't interacted with him before, it's a good bet Hatate has, and we don't need her getting brainwashed regardless of how tied up she is. We should probably also tell Koakuma that if someone comes by claiming to be a guard sent by Mystia, they're most likely good.

Next destination is Myouren Temple because I want to check in on them, but I'm suddenly very interested in returning to the heretic house afterward, given the sword thing.

EDIT: Actually, scratch that, next destination is the jeweler's shop. I want to talk to Ichiro first before heading back, preferably without Shuuei around. No need to get her mixed up in this mess. He should have some further information into what exactly happened.

EDIT 2:

> Shoot. Oh well.
> Head back upstairs to find Koakuma again.
> "Gonna head out. Before I go, though, have you personally ever had any dealings with this guy?"

[Hello Purvis]

> Shoot. Oh well.
> Head back upstairs to find Koakuma again.
> "Gonna head out. Before I go, though, have you personally ever had any dealings with this guy?"

>It was worth a try.
>You head back upstairs, and find the guard is still enjoying her new seat.
>"Okay," she says. "And yeah, a few times when Patchouli needed something."

>_

[GuyYouMetOnline]

>"You've just been the go-between there, though, right? Patchy was making the purchase; you were just doing the legwork. I don't think that's likely to be something he could use against you."

I also think we should check out the forest where we were in the dream.

[Hello Purvis]

>"You've just been the go-between there, though, right? Patchy was making the purchase; you were just doing the legwork. I don't think that's likely to be something he could use against you."

>"Kay," says the youkai.

>_

[GuyYouMetOnline]

>"Okay, see you later."
>Exit and head for Ichiro's.

[Hello Purvis]

>"Okay, see you later."
>Exit and head for Ichiro's.

>"Toodles!" say the youkai, as you step out and open up your umbrella again.
>You take to the air, and travel toward the north to the human village. The plains past the Forest of Magic are still fairly empty and inactive; you doubt much will happen there thanks to the rain. As well, the village is inactive and seems almost normal for a rainy day, now. You can see a few people remaining on the edges of the main intersection under the eaves,but it is hardly even a shadow of the dozens of people there earlier today and yesterday. The streets are empty, save for a lone human you note rushing down one of the side roads toward a row of houses. Everything seems dull and gray now, you're not sure if it's the light or a pallor hanging over the town.
>You land in front of Ichiro's Jewelry, taking care not to kick up too much mud from your landing, as a lovely puddle is growing around the side of the shop and quietly occupying much of the front. You note a light inside from the corner of your eyes, likely a candle or a lamp.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Float over, above the puddle, to a window to check out what's going on inside.

[Kilgamayan]

Done some musing and reflection, and I'm satisfied with my anti-tengu stress relief. I'm thinking we can let Hatatatatatatate go next time we're in the area.

[Hello Purvis]

> Float over, above the puddle, to a window to check out what's going on inside.

>You look inside, and see that Ichiro is sitting at the counter, tinkering with something. Shuuei doesn't seem to be around anywhere.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Enter the store.

[Hello Purvis]

> Enter the store.

>You walk into the jewelry store. Ichiro looks up and gives a small nod. "I half expected to see you again before the day was out. Come in, come in!"

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Thanks."
> Come in properthe and close the door behind us.
> "I came by earlier, but you were watching her work on something, so I left to take care of some other stuff. Did she go home for the day?"

[Hello Purvis]

> "Thanks."
> Come in properthe and close the door behind us.
> "I came by earlier, but you were watching her work on something, so I left to take care of some other stuff. Did she go home for the day?"

>You walk inside, closing the door and your umbrella.
>"Yes," says Ichiro. "As I understand, she intends to meet her patroness this evening, so I felt it wasn't necessary to keep her any longer."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Oh neat. I wonder if I can get in on that."
> Cross our arms and give a slight frown.
> "But I'm not here for her. For why I'm here, it's good she's not around."

[Hello Purvis]

> "Oh neat. I wonder if I can get in on that."
> Cross our arms and give a slight frown.
> "But I'm not here for her. For why I'm here, it's good she's not around."

>"If you can find them, I suppose," says Ichiro. "She didn't feel the need to volunteer anything. Not that she ever does."
>He nods as you talk about why you're here. "Ah, then speak as candidly as you like."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "All right."
> Take on a slightly softer voice. We don't want to sound threatening or accusatory.
> "So I've come to understand you've had recent business in this village with rabbits and spellcards. What's up with that?"

[Hello Purvis]

> "All right."
> Take on a slightly softer voice. We don't want to sound threatening or accusatory.
> "So I've come to understand you've had recent business in this village with rabbits and spellcards. What's up with that?"

>"Mmm, just a whim, really," he says with a shrug. "I enjoying a nice walk when things started to fall apart yesterday. And then I saw that particular rabbit yesterday, and found myself in a good position to help myself, and decided to indulge a little. Should I want to know why you know about this?"

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "I'd be surprised if you didn't know already. You are aware those cards didn't belong to her, yes?"

[Hello Purvis]

> "I'd be surprised if you didn't know already. You are aware those cards didn't belong to her, right?"

>"I hadn't a clue," says Ichiro, frowning.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Well, they weren't. They were mine."

[Hello Purvis]

> "Well, they weren't. They were mine."

>"That was the rather embarrassing conclusion I had reached, hah hah..."
>He gives a weak grin, then a shrug.
>"Unfortunately, I...ah...already presented them to my dear neighbor just across the road."

>_