Nue Quest 8 - Pagan: A Z-Machine Adventure

[Kilgamayan]

> Take a soft tone ourselves.
> "Can I expect these faeries to behave the same way our faeries back home behave?"

[Hello Purvis]

> Take a soft tone ourselves.
> "Can I expect these faeries to behave the same way our faeries back home behave?"

>Mamizou nods. "They tend to remain hidden as a rule, but you can sneak up on them when they're being inattentive. some faeries even manage to live around the homes of others, and avoid being found for some time, helping themselves to food and drink as they please."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "So what about this water sprite, then? What's she like?"

[Hello Purvis]

> "So what about this water sprite, then? What's she like?"

>"She can be a little gossip," says Mamizou. "But, most of it involves the local fish. That aside, she has sweet tooth; I think she'd even appear to humans who bribed her with a little cake."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Hmm. I wonder if she would want to travel to Gensokyo."

[Hello Purvis]

> "Hmm. I wonder if she would want to travel to Gensokyo."

>"Unlikely," says Mamizou. "She dislikes leaving the water."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "She might not have a choice, if expansion continues. Besides, it's not like Gensokyo doesn't have a sizeable body of water."

[Hello Purvis]

> "She might not have a choice, if expansion continues. Besides, it's not like Gensokyo doesn't have a sizeable body of water."

>"I imagine she has her own plans," says Mamizou. "But you could certainly offer."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "I might just. It would be fun to see the local shrine maiden's reaction, if nothing else."

[Hello Purvis]

> "I might just. It would be fun to see the local shrine maiden's reaction, if nothing else."

>"I can't imagine any shrine maiden would be pleased to learn of foreign youkai visiting," says Mamizou. "I think I may have to encourage you to try."

>_

[GuyYouMetOnline]

>"Well, she does tend towards the aggressive, that's for sure. And the witch is even worse."

[Hello Purvis]

>"Well, she does tend towards the aggressive, that's for sure. And the witch is even worse."

>"The witches are always worse," says Mamizou, as you note a clearing up ahead. "They don't have to follow as many rules."
>A moment later, Mamizou leads you through the brush and you come to the shore of a small, murky pond. Mosses and algae cover its surface, as do thick-leafed lily pads. You can see a small creek, barely a trickle, feeding into the pond. Mamizou calls out something in you cannot understand. After a few moments, you think you note something moving under the water, disturbing the pond scum.
>"Ah, she's here today, good," says the tanuki.
>After a moment, you note one of the lily pads lift up, and head a feminine voice say something softly. Mamizou answers it, and gestures toward you, you hear your name most distinctly. Then she looks toward you and says, "Nue, that's Isolde hiding under there.  You could probably see her if you got down on the ground, but let's not force that just yet.

>_

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Right."
> Turn to the lily pad.
> "Hello."

[Hello Purvis]

> "Right."
> Turn to the lily pad.
> "Hello."

>You say hello toward the lily pad. Mamizou translates it, then nods as the seelie speaks some more. The two then exchange some words, you think they're talking about you.
>"She says that she didn't expect to meet another foreigner," Mamizou says. "She was curious as to if you were going to settle here as well, but I explained your intentions. She also apologizes for staying hidden, but doesn't feel assured that we were not followed. She would rather not have to deal with gawking humans and the like."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Put the wood down someplace where the ground won't ruin it.
> "Understandable."
> Face the lily pad.
> "Actually, I was wondering if you mightn't like to go back home with me."

[Hello Purvis]

> Put the wood down someplace where the ground won't ruin it.
> "Understandable."
> Face the lily pad.
> "Actually, I was wondering if you mightn't like to go back home with me."

>You set down the wood on the grass near the lake.
>You ask her to come back with you, and Mamizou translates. The seelie gives a fairly short answer; you think you understand "why" and "I" in it.
>"She says, 'Why would I want to?'" says the tanuki. "'I have a home here.'"

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "My friend here says you have frequented this lake less and less as the humans have expanded more and more. This may be hard to believe, but I come from a land where supernatural people such as us live with humans in mutual acquaintanceship and tolerance, if not outright friendship. If the attitudes of humans here are as negative as I've heard, I figured it would be worth offering a chance at a more tolerant land."

[Hello Purvis]

> "My friend here says you have frequented this lake less and less as the humans have expanded more and more. This may be hard to believe, but I come from a land where supernatural people such as us live with humans in mutual acquaintanceship and tolerance, if not outright friendship. If the attitudes of humans here are as negative as I've heard, I figured it would be worth offering a chance at a more tolerant land."

>You explain your reasoning, and Mamizou translates it over as you do.
>The lily pad lifts to  reveal a young woman with sodden black hair that seems to go past her shoulders; the rest of her body is obscured by the water and pond muck. Her skin is pale, and seems to almost have a bluish tingle to it. You note her ears are not so much ears as fish-like fins. Her eyes are striking blue color, rather reminding you of some shades of kappa hair. You can't understand her response, especially when Mamizou starts to translate it it for you.
>"Ahem," says Mamizou. "She is saying, 'That's a very strange offer, I could just move into another pond. I don't think I could accept it, even if I wanted to leave, the Queen would not hear of it so lightly. Do you think I would run so easily?'" Mamizou frowns. "Ah, I should mention that running away is considered something of a mark of shame among the Seelie. The difference between a withdrawal and a retreat is quite important to them. As I understand it, they are still a little sore about losing some conflict well in the past."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Oh. Well, all right then, you certainly don't have to."
> Do we have any comestible on us?
> Are we aware of any bakeries or other sources of sweets in Gensokyo?

[Kilgamayan]

Everyone, don't forget to vote for Nue in today's Seimoe match!

[Hello Purvis]

> "Oh. Well, all right then, you certainly don't have to."
> Do we have any comestible on us?
> Are we aware of any bakeries or other sources of sweets in Gensokyo?

>The only food you have onhand is a day-old, partially eaten rice ball.
>You know there's a place in the human village that makes sweet buns and other such confectioneries.  There's a few stands in the Ancient City Market that deals in various sweets, mostly hard candies and the like.
>Mamizou relays your message to Isolde. The water spirit replies, and Mamizou says, "She said, 'You meant well, so no offense taken."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "So there's a Queen, then? Is there an entire hierarchy system, or just the one person?"

[Hello Purvis]

> "So there's a Queen, then? Is there an entire hierarchy system, or just the one person?"

>"It's more complex than that," says Mamizou. "There are two queens, in truth. One presiding over the Seelie Court, and another over counterpart, the Unseelie Court. Let me explain, Seelie is a word in their traditional language, meaning the happy people. As I understand, they split after trying and failing to rebel against the gods and early humans.  The Seelie have made a kind of peace with them and the Unseelie have not. Both courts claim sway over the whole of the Seelie, but realistically most of them claim allegiance to one or the other. But aside from the queens, they each do hold a proper court and have influence over their respective peoples. Well, rather, most of their respective peoples."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Huh. Any such divisions in Gensokyo are basically uniracial villages. Oni, tengu, kappa, human. I think even the faeries have their own gathering places. There are village leaders, but they don't even pretend to have administrative authority outside of their villages."

[Hello Purvis]

> "Huh. Any such divisions in Gensokyo are basically uniracial villages. Oni, tengu, kappa, human. I think even the faeries have their own gathering places. There are village leaders, but they don't even pretend to have administrative authority outside of their villages."

>"Yes, they seem to be quite a bit more organized here than we ever were back home," says Mamizou. "I don't think anyone tried to be our queen."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "I wonder what else this place has."
> Turn back to the sprite.
> "Out of curiosity, Isolde, does this place have any sort of direct living access to the Netherworld?"

[Hello Purvis]

> "I wonder what else this place has."
> Turn back to the sprite.
> "Out of curiosity, Isolde, does this place have any sort of direct living access to the Netherworld?"

>"Quite a bit," says Mamizou. "Settling here was an interesting experience..."
>You address the sprite again.  Mamizou translates for you, then as Isolde answers, she says, "She is saying, 'I'm not sure what you mean by that?'. Really, I am rather puzzled as well."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "The land of the dead. Gensokyo has land access to a realm of ghosts and spirits and whatnot, at the top of a really long staircase. It also has land access to the Sanzu River, which apparently separates Gensokyo from a courtroom or something where souls are judged. You need the shinigami ferrywoman's help, though. I figured Avalon might have similar locations, if it wasn't directly connected to the same places."

[Hello Purvis]

> "The land of the dead. Gensokyo has land access to a realm of ghosts and spirits and whatnot, at the top of a really long staircase. It also has land access to the Sanzu River, which apparently separates Gensokyo from a courtroom or something where souls are judged. You need the shinigami ferrywoman's help, though. I figured Avalon might have similar locations, if it wasn't directly connected to the same places."

>Mamizou nods, then says, "I have never heard of a thing like that here, but I not needed to inquire."
>She then speaks to Isolde. You get the sense that she's paraphrasing. your words. Isolde frowns, then speaks. Mamizou gives a small "Huh" before she begins to translate. "'There isn't anything like that. The idea of walking to Annwn is silly, only the Hounds of Annwn can take one there after they've died.' Annwn, as I understand it, is what they call the afterlife. I'm not sure how it differs from what we know."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "I'm not sure about the actual system, but you could actually talk to the mistress of the netherworld, if her half-ghost swordswoman guard lets you by. I went there yesterday to see if they were affected by what had happened to Gensokyo and had a decent conversation with the guard. Also got to talk to the shinigami ferrywoman for a little bit too, though you'd need her help to talk to any of the judges beyond the river. So any old person can just waltz into the entrances to these places, they just aren't going to get too far unless they have a damn good reason."