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

[Hello Purvis]

> "How was it broken, anyway? This doesn't look like a standard combat casualty."

>"Sir Percival may be a dolt," says the man, "But he swings an axe like none other."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Let our eyes go a little wider than normal again.
> "That's impressive. The few people from my land that saw this were convinced the destruction was magical in nature."

[Hello Purvis]

> Let our eyes go a little wider than normal again.
> "That's impressive. The few people from my land that saw this were convinced the destruction was magical in nature."

>"Let us just say I am not entirely convinced that Sir Percival doesn't have Viking blood somewhere in his veins," says the man. "I'm sure if he never joined the Round Table, he would be terrorizing some forest a tree at a time."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "All right. It seems like this land wants nothing to do with this sword, and I can't really blame you, because this Edmund guy sounds like he was an ass. The problem is that I'm fairly certain the forces I can feel in this sword can be used to save my land from the economic disaster. I've been thinking, and I think I may have a couple of ideas on the proof front. Is there a town with a jeweler's shop anywhere nearby?"

[Hello Purvis]

> "All right. It seems like this land wants nothing to do with this sword, and I can't really blame you, because this Edmund guy sounds like he was an ass. The problem is that I'm fairly certain the forces I can feel in this sword can be used to save my land from the economic disaster. I've been thinking, and I think I may have a couple of ideas on the proof front. Is there a town with a jeweler's shop anywhere nearby?"

>"The village of Arzas isn't too far from here," says the man.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "You headed that way? Or can I get some directions so I can head there myself?"

[Hello Purvis]

> "You headed that way? Or can I get some directions so I can head there myself?"

>"I wasn't planning to stop there," says the man, "But I suppose I could make the side trip."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "I'd be grateful if you could."

[Hello Purvis]

> "I'd be grateful if you could."

>"I expect I would be remiss if I didn't follow this up in any event," he says. "Before we do this, I would like your solemn word that you shall do no harm to any human you encounter, myself included."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Nod.
> "I swear on my friends that I will not raise a limb or a weapon in aggression toward any human I see here."

[Hello Purvis]

> Nod.
> "I swear on my friends that I will not raise a limb or a weapon in aggression toward any human I see here."

>"That best include any glamours you have in store," he says.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Any what?"

[Hello Purvis]

> "Any what?"

>"Little magical tricks," he says.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Oh. Right, yes, it does."

[Hello Purvis]

> "Oh. Right, yes, it does."

He nods, and offers you a gloved and metal-plated hand. "Then I need only ask your name."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Drop whatever half of the sword is in the hand appropriate for the hand shake, and return the handshake with a small smile.
> "Houjuu Nue."
> When the handshake is released, pick up the dropped sword piece and reattach it to the one we didn't drop.
> "And yours?"

[Hello Purvis]

> Drop whatever half of the sword is in the hand appropriate for the hand shake, and return the handshake with a small smile.
> "Houjuu Nue."
> When the handshake is released, pick up the dropped sword piece and reattach it to the one we didn't drop.
> "And yours?"

>You juggle the sword pieces and shake the man's hand, introducing yourself.
>"I am Sir Kay, Son of Ector," he says. "Heir to the Forest Sauvage, Knight of the Round Table, and Seneschal to King Pendragon."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "That sounds pretty important. I can't think of very many back home with more than one title, if they even have the one."

[Hello Purvis]

> "That sounds pretty important. I can't think of very many back home with more than one title, if they even have the one."

>"And you are correct," he says, with the the hint of a grin. "Suffice it to say when things are running smoothly in King Pendragon's household and the knights are not being boors, you have me to thank for it."
>He approaches the horse, who has long since sated itself at the stream, and takes it by the reigns. "I understand that Seelie do not typically get along with horses, but Ivar should have no problem with you. But..." He frowns. "Could you perhaps work a glamour to conceal those things on your back? It would be much easier to travel into the town with a lost maiden than a seelie."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Sure, not a problem. I suppose that means no flying, then?"
> Cannibalize the wings.

[Hello Purvis]

> "Sure, not a problem. I suppose that means no flying, then?"
> Cannibalize the wings.

>"If you could avoid doing it on a lark, that would be much appreciated, yes," says Sir Kay.
>You take a few moments to retract your wings. As you do, the seneschal looks over his horse, then mounts it. Once you finish making yourself look human, he offers you a hand up. "Do be sure to put that weapon away, first."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Can't guarantee I'll still understand you, but okay."
> Let him respond if he desires, then disconnect the sword and put it away.
> Take his hand and get up on the horse.

[Hello Purvis]

> "Can't guarantee I'll still understand you, but okay."
> Let him respond if he desires, then disconnect the sword and put it away.
> Take his hand and get up on the horse.

>"I expect that 'We're here, get off the horse,' will be not difficult to express," says Sir Kay before you put the weapon away. "Nor, I imagine, will 'I am about to be sick, this horse is moving too fast for me,' be difficult for you to express at all. And should such happen, to the right side please. I would be perfectly happy not to have seelie sick all over my lance or myself.
>Once you've put the weapon away, Sir Kay helps you onto the horse's back, pulling you into position behind him. True to his word, the horse doesn't really seem to have any issues with you, which is uncommon. Horses and dogs have a tendency not to get on well many kinds of youkai.  Once you're in place and have a good hold around Sir Kay's torso, he kicks the horse into a gallop, nearly jarring you off of the back before you can reaffirm your grip! The trees fly by almost as fast as they were if you were properly flying, and soon begin to thin out to a grassy plain filled with flowers you are reasonably sure you wouldn't recognize if you could stop to have a good look at them. Time passes as you follow a road that wends between the gentle hills of the field, as the horse keeps up its breakneck pace. At first, you expect the animal will slow down any moment, but it takes a good, long time for it to slow down to a more manageable canter, and even then it's pretty speedy for a horse.
>After awhile, you see a village in the distance, stretched alongside the banks of a river. It seems to be a reasonably sizable place, with buildings made of daub and wattle, reminding you of Mystia's home. However, as you draw closer, you notice a distinctive lack of the housing rows that you're used to, instead just just seem to be numerous huts. You also notice farms and fenced off pastures, the latter full of goat-like animals with thick woolly coats. As you get closer to the town, you note wooden buildings among them. The architecture looks similar at a glance, but you note that the roofs are generally generally less angled and overhang less. More oddly, everything seems to be made with thick materials; you don't see what looks like a paper wall anywhere.
>Near the edge of the town, the horse slows, then comes to a stop. Sir Kay says a short sentence that you cannot understand, but you pick out the word "Arzas" among the words.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Nod.
> Take on a calm tone.
> "Neat place."
> Reach into our purse and grab the handle of the sword, but don't pull it out. Try to keep it as not visible as possible.

[Kilgamayan]

> Actually, don't grab onto the handle just yet.
> After speaking, hop off the horse.
> Once we're down, then inconspicuously grab the handle as described before.

[Hello Purvis]

> Nod.
> Take on a calm tone.
> "Neat place."
> Reach into our purse and grab the handle of the sword, but don't pull it out. Try to keep it as not visible as possible.

> Actually, don't grab onto the handle just yet.
> After speaking, hop off the horse.
> Once we're down, then inconspicuously grab the handle as described before.

>Sir Kay swings a foot off the saddle and dismounts the horse as you do. He hits the ground with a loud thump and the sound of several pieces of metal creaking. Then he looks over at you his eyes dart toward your purse. "It will be much easier to walk in, I assure you. Now, you wished for a jeweler, yes?"

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Nod vigorously.
> Do we have any pockets on us where we could reasonably hide the sword handle?

[Hello Purvis]

> Nod vigorously.
> Do we have any pockets on us where we could reasonably hide the sword handle?

>"This way, then," he says, making his way into the village.
>You do not have any pockets which will conceal the Broken Sword Handle.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Follow him. As we go along, use our free hand to protectively hold our purse to our side, and look around the village with an expression of mixed worry, uncertainty, and naive curiosity. Things will probably go smoothest if we can play up the 'lost maiden' angle.

[Hello Purvis]

> Follow him. As we go along, use our free hand to protectively hold our purse to our side, and look around the village with an expression of mixed worry, uncertainty, and naive curiosity. Things will probably go smoothest if we can play up the 'lost maiden' angle.

>You follow him into the village, trying to look scared and curious, You do draw a fair amount of attention, but from what you can gather, most pf the people are remarking on your clothes.
>The people here are dressed in fair rough-looking clothes, you don't see a hint of silk anywhere. In fact, it doesn't even seem that Sir Kay has any; you'd think someone in his position as a retainer to the king would have some. There doesn't seem to be as much variety as clothing, either, but you do note some rather lovely dyework here and there. The town itself is less dense than anything you've seen before, many of the houses have little gardens around it, and fences seem to be rather common. There's quite a few chickens roving about, as well.
>Further into town, you see more wooden homes; fully wooden without a hint of paper around them. Sir Kay angles toward one with a sign leaning on the front, bearing strange letters and picture of a ring. "This is it," he says.

>_