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

[Kilgamayan]

> "Huh?"

[Hanzo K.]

>"Oh yeah, that reminds me. You never did explain to me just what that exactly is anyways."

[Hello Purvis]

> "Huh?"

>"That is much more selfless than I would ever expect out of one of them," he says.

>"Oh yeah, that reminds me. You never did explain to me just what that exactly is anyways."

>"The old people," he says. "It's a little difficult to describe them as a whole, for there are many different kinds. They are a magical people, illusionists and tricksters. Sometimes friend of humans, and sometimes foe. They tend to dwell in the wild places and old mounds, though many have adapted to living in the shadows of civilization. Some are tremendously powerful, others are mere nuisances. They are generally unpredictable and selfish, or sometimes strangely generous. Or generous to disguise some trick of theirs. Sometimes they steal children, steal one's spouse, or one's soul.  I've handled my share of them in the past, and frankly, with those...appendages of yours, you look precisely like a Seelie."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Well, it's just that I'm not sure if we can't harness what we need from this sword somehow even with it shattered, now that I know what force is at work in it. Besides..."
> Heft the sword slightly with a small grin.
> "I like my trident in one piece."

[Hello Purvis]

> "Well, it's just that I'm not sure if we can't harness what we need from this sword somehow even with it shattered, now that I know what force is at work in it. Besides..."
> Heft the sword slightly with a small grin.
> "I like my trident in one piece."

>He nods. "To be honest, if there were a way to make sure it wouldn't come back, I think I would be much more ambivalent about the idea."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "I've been wondering about that as well. I'd never heard of anyone from my land finding this place. Even a couple of people that live nearby to where I crossed over didn't say anything. And it sounds like you aren't aware of anyone that's crossed over, and from your job description I imagine you'd be one of the first to learn."
> Look down at the sword.
> "Then there's the fact that I can't understand this language unless I have a piece of this sword, and I can't speak it unless it's connected. If I had to guess, I'd say anyone from my land would need this with them to cross over. Which means that it wouldn't come back here unless whoever possessed it brought it here."

[Hanzo K.]

>From what he's saying, these Seelie folks are a lot like Youkai then.

[Hello Purvis]

>From what he's saying, these Seelie folks are a lot like Youkai then.

>You get the feeling that you may well be a seelie, as far as he's concerned... Is this what it is like to wake up one day and find your home has been conquered?

> "I've been wondering about that as well. I'd never heard of anyone from my land finding this place. Even a couple of people that live nearby to where I crossed over didn't say anything. And it sounds like you aren't aware of anyone that's crossed over, and from your job description I imagine you'd be one of the first to learn."
> Look down at the sword.
> "Then there's the fact that I can't understand this language unless I have a piece of this sword, and I can't speak it unless it's connected. If I had to guess, I'd say anyone from my land would need this with them to cross over. Which means that it wouldn't come back here unless whoever possessed it brought it here."

>He nods. "And you think this would not come to pass?"

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "I know enough people that be trusted to keep the pieces separate and hidden."
> Give a slightly uncertain look.
> Though I might hang onto them long enough to visit again once my land's crisis is over. This is a pretty interesting place...behaviors, traditions, architecture I've never seen before. Even if I have to talk through a sword to be understood."

[Hello Purvis]

> "I know enough people that be trusted to keep the pieces separate and hidden."
> Give a slightly uncertain look.
> Though I might hang onto them long enough to visit again once my land's crisis is over. This is a pretty interesting place...behaviors, traditions, architecture I've never seen before. Even if I have to talk through a sword to be understood."

>"I'd be just as happy if you melted it into a stew pot when you were done with it," says Sir Kay.
>He frowns as you mention coming again. "I am not sure what King Pendragon would think of that..."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Well, if I don't,  then I don't. I certainly don't have to."

[Hello Purvis]

> "Well, if I don't,  then I don't. I certainly don't have to."

>"Then make certain we don't hear about it," says Sir Kay.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "That can be arranged."

[Hello Purvis]

> "That can be arranged."

>Sir Kay nods. "Good. Because if I were to hear of any trouble, I would be most vexed."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "So what do we do now, then?"

[Hello Purvis]

> "So what do we do now, then?"

>"I expect that is up to you," he says.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Stay silent for a couple of moments with a thinking face.
> "Maybe you can give me some final ideas, then. To put our situation simply, the man responsible for what has happened to our economy had the power to do what he did through a f fanatical belief in the idea of equivalency. According to some of our experts on the subject, his power can be countered through a belief that would naturally cancel his."
> Heft the sword slightly again.
> "I think I've found what could work. Not the sword itself, the belief it represents. From the sound of things, your Bloody Prince had a fanatical belief in nonequivalency; that he was simply better than everyone and everything. And I'm pretty sure I've felt that belief resonate through this thing, like it still contains a part of him somehow. The inscription certainly seems to suggest so."

[Hello Purvis]

> Stay silent for a couple of moments with a thinking face.
> "Maybe you can give me some final ideas, then. To put our situation simply, the man responsible for what has happened to our economy had the power to do what he did through a f fanatical belief in the idea of equivalency. According to some of our experts on the subject, his power can be countered through a belief that would naturally cancel his."
> Heft the sword slightly again.
> "I think I've found what could work. Not the sword itself, the belief it represents. From the sound of things, your Bloody Prince had a fanatical belief in nonequivalency; that he was simply better than everyone and everything. And I'm pretty sure I've felt that belief resonate through this thing, like it still contains a part of him somehow. The inscription certainly seems to suggest so."

>"Does it, now?" says the knight, giving the weapon a rather foul look.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "It doesn't seem to have a profound active effect as it is now, though. It gave me that megalomaniacal dream I mentioned, but I haven't noticed it have an effect on me while awake."

[Hello Purvis]

> "It doesn't seem to have a profound active effect as it is now, though. It gave me that megalomaniacal dream I mentioned, but I haven't noticed it have an effect on me while awake."

>"I'm no wizard," says Sir Kay, "But I would take this as an indication to bury it before sleeping."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Ideally, I won't need to hold onto it anymore by the time our day is done."

[Hello Purvis]

> "Ideally, I won't need to hold onto it anymore by the time our day is done."

>"Then what will you be doing with it?"

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Probably giving the pieces away to people that can be trusted to not only keep them hidden away, but to keep them out of the hands of anyone that might try to get hands on the sword for malevolent reasons. Assuming the pieces aren't just ruined entirely."

[Hello Purvis]

> "Probably giving the pieces away to people that can be trusted to not only keep them hidden away, but to keep them out of the hands of anyone that might try to get hands on the sword for malevolent reasons. Assuming the pieces aren't just ruined entirely."

>He nods. "So, it is enough for you broken, then?"

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "I have no idea. But I don't have much of a choice in the matter."

[Hello Purvis]

> "I have no idea. But I don't have much of a choice in the matter."

>"And if you did find a way to repair it?"

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "It would, most likely, be much easier to harness what resides in it."

[Hello Purvis]

> "It would, most likely, be much easier to harness what resides in it."

>He nods, frowning as he seems to be looking over and past you.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "This guy was your land's asshole, so it's your call. I don't think I have anything else to say, though I'd be happy to answer further questions."

[Hello Purvis]

> "This guy was your land's asshole, so it's your call. I don't think I have anything else to say, though I'd be happy to answer further questions."

>"One question lingers in my mind," says Sir Kay, as he starts to walk away from the jeweler. "You claim that weapon has a power you need, yes? And that you hope fixing it would make it easier to use. One wonders how you'll wear the crown, so to speak."

>_