Nue Quest 8 - Pagan: A Z-Machine Adventure

[Hello Purvis]

> "All of those things have happened since I arrived there, though I'll admit my specific knowledge of each varies. But yes, we had the sun destroyed and then replaced, we had the home of the enlightened I mentioned earlier come crashing down to the ground, and now we have the money dealie that I'm trying to fix. And I'm sure this is hardly the entire history of Gensokyo incidents, given we have people dedicated to the job of resolving them."

>"Are you certain it is wise to try to convince me to come back, rather than convince me to let you move in?" says Mamizou, frowning as she starts to reaffix her headscarf.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Grin.
> "What, you scared?"

[Hello Purvis]

> Grin.
> "What, you scared?"

>"And you're not dismayed to the point of flight?" says Mamizou, as the edge of the forest comes into view.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Nah, not at all. It all gets fixed eventually, which makes living through it all the more enjoyable. I'd say life would be a hell of a lot more boring if the oni always behaved and there were never any incidents."

[Hello Purvis]

> "Nah, not at all. It all gets fixed eventually, which makes living through it all the more enjoyable. I'd say life would be a hell of a lot more boring if the oni always behaved and there were never any incidents."

>"Mmm, I suppose I have to accept the truth in that," says Mamizou.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Are we out of the forest at this point?

Going to bed. Once we're out of the forest, DO NOT FORGET TO SLIM BACK DOWN BEFORE COMING INTO VIEW OF THE TOWN AGAIN. Showing up all muscly will raise a lot of uncomfortable questions.

[Hello Purvis]

> Are we out of the forest at this point?

>Just about.

>_

[Hanzo K.]

>"Just a minute, can't have them getting too suspicious can we?"
>Put down the wood, and slim back down to our usual self.
>Then, pick the wood back up and keep going.

[Hello Purvis]

>"Just a minute, can't have them getting too suspicious can we?"
>Put down the wood, and slim back down to our usual self.
>Then, pick the wood back up and keep going.

>You take a few moments to restore your musculature to normal, then pick up now noticeably heavier Block of Mahogany.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Oh well, it can't be helped.
> Resume our travels back to the village.
> "I should also say that these disasters don't happen every day. Life in Gensokyo is mostly peaceful. Or at least, it probably would be if I lived on my own or anywhere other than the oni village."

[Hello Purvis]

> Oh well, it can't be helped.
> Resume our travels back to the village.
> "I should also say that these disasters don't happen every day. Life in Gensokyo is mostly peaceful. Or at least, it probably would be if I lived on my own or anywhere other than the oni village."

>"I can't imagine anything like peace in a community of oni," says Mamizou. "But if any one person could make their way there, it would be you."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Yeah, like I said, they're good types if you don't try to trick them. Which I'll admit I've learned the hard way."

[Hello Purvis]

> "Yeah, like I said, they're good types if you don't try to trick them. Which I'll admit I've learned the hard way."

>"I imagine that you have," says Mamizou. "But I imagine there's good money to be hand, as long as one can separate them from the tengu."

>_

[Hanzo K.]

>"Oh yeah, almost forgot. The Tengu and Kappa don't work for 'em anymore. Nowadays the Oni live underground, in the city that used to be the Old Hell. Still some crazy things running around down there."
>Fondly regard memories of past things that went down in the Ancient City.
>"I remember this one Rabbit that showed up down there a while back looking for something, she took on an Oni Eater. An Oni Eater. And the kid damn well won!"

[Hello Purvis]

>"Oh yeah, almost forgot. The Tengu and Kappa don't work for 'em anymore. Nowadays the Oni live underground, in the city that used to be the Old Hell. Still some crazy things running around down there."
>Fondly regard memories of past things that went down in the Ancient City.
>"I remember this one Rabbit that showed up down there a while back looking for something, she took on an Oni Eater. An Oni Eater. And the kid damn well won!"

>"My, things have changed," says Mamizou as you mention the Oni's new living arrangements.
>You think of some of the things that have happened there in the past. Ah, good times. Well, once you stopped having to run from them so much... You do recall that The Oni Eater was, as far as anyone knows, a lone creature rather than a proper species.
>"What manner of beast could live up to that name?" Mamizou says, frowning.

>_

[Hanzo K.]

>"Something able to kill off a good lot of Oni, that's for sure. No clue how it did it though, I'll have to ask that Rabbit sometime. She was the one who fought it, so she'd know."
>Let's keep on truckin' to see about that sword, chatting as we go.
>"I tell ya, that was one of the busiest times ever after she put an end to that thing. They regard her as a Great Hero, can you believe it? A Rabbit, being the hero."
>"They had one heck of a combination party-slash-wake I tell ya. It was getting so that I couldn't tell if some of them were partying their hearts out, or mourning. Oni are weird like that. They drink for everything. But hey, they're my clientele back at the pub, so I can't complain any."
>Slight frown. "Here's hoping they haven't torn the whole place up eh? They were in a right fit about the cash thing."


(I apologize for any somewhat incorrect things, I haven't read Reisen Quest in ages.)

[Hello Purvis]

>"Something able to kill off a good lot of Oni, that's for sure. No clue how it did it though, I'll have to ask that Rabbit sometime. She was the one who fought it, so she'd know."
>Let's keep on truckin' to see about that sword, chatting as we go.
>"I tell ya, that was one of the busiest times ever after she put an end to that thing. They regard her as a Great Hero, can you believe it? A Rabbit, being the hero."
>"They had one heck of a combination party-slash-wake I tell ya. It was getting so that I couldn't tell if some of them were partying their hearts out, or mourning. Oni are weird like that. They drink for everything. But hey, they're my clientele back at the pub, so I can't complain any."
>Slight frown. "Here's hoping they haven't torn the whole place up eh? They were in a right fit about the cash thing."

>Mamizou nods as the two of you walk out into the fields. "That is unusual, one does not typically encounter courageous rabbits. And, while I've never spend time with any kind of oni civilization, I could well see their reaction to putting the fallen to rest being to drink. And, a tavern, you said?"

>_

[Thaws]

>"That's right. The former Terror of Heian is now actually running legitimate business in a city of Oni. Hard to believe, eh?"

>"Kinda had no choice when I started off, it was impossible to live among onis as a prankster, but I think life turned out quite well, you'd never have to worry about supply of customers. I'll show you my place when you visit for sure, we haven't drink together for so~ long."

[Hello Purvis]

>"That's right. The former Terror of Heian is now actually running legitimate business in a city of Oni. Hard to believe, eh?"

>"Kinda had no choice when I started off, it was impossible to live among onis as a prankster, but I think life turned out quite well, you'd never have to worry about supply of customers. I'll show you my place when you visit for sure, we haven't drink together for so~ long."

>"Ah, I see you have even specified it as legitimate," says Mamizou. "What a funny world we live in these days. And yes, you shall have to show me. It's been ages since I've hard a proper wine."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "What can I say? Even with me, Gensokyo has a knack for not making sense."

[Hello Purvis]

> "What can I say? Even with me, Gensokyo has a knack for not making sense."

>Mamizou shakes her head. "Shall I presume the kappa now have a taste for eggplants?"

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Chuckle a bit.
> "No, some things are still the same. The kappa are still in love with their cucumbers, and the tengu are still scared shitless of the oni."

[Hello Purvis]

> Chuckle a bit.
> "No, some things are still the same. The kappa are still in love with their cucumbers, and the tengu are still scared shitless of the oni."

>"Ah good," says Mamizou, "then I shall not have to worry about the faeries leaving me feeling dull and humiliated,"

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Oh yeah, I was going to ask about that but I didn't want to risk offending. Are the fairies here dumb as bricks like the ones back home are?"

[Hello Purvis]

> "Oh yeah, I was going to ask about that but I didn't want to risk offending. Are the fairies here dumb as bricks like the ones back home are?"

>"Oh of course," says Mamizou. "They are much more inclined to stay hidden and loyal to Queen Mab to a fault, but they are still the same faeries they've always been."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "At least some things remain the same."

[Hello Purvis]

> "At least some things remain the same."

>"Much are my thoughts," says Mamizou.
>The two of you continue to walk back toward town. Along the way, Mamizou lapses into talking about life there. She seems  to be doing what she always has been, lending money to whomever needs it. You don't really know where she gets it frown; she's always seems to have had it since you've known her. You don't think that she managed to scam people with illusions, she would eventually be found out and run out of town if she did that much. Regardless, it seems she has played a quiet role in helping the town develop from a sleepy farming village to what it is now, which seems to still be a sleepy farming village with a fair amount of recognition for Weyland's works. However, the tanuki points out a few other things that have come developed; a hostel that the gentry would be willing to stay at, a tailor shop to cater to travelers, and other such things. She predicts, within a few years, Arzas will have considerably more traffic and significance beyond a talented smithy.
>As you reach the edge of town again, she says, "Shall we go to the smithy, then?"

>_

>_

[GuyYouMetOnline]

>"Let's."
>To the smithy!

[Kilgamayan]

> We need to get her into Gensokyo if only to steamline tavern business.

[Hello Purvis]

>"Let's."
>To the smithy!

>Mamizou nods and starts into town.
>The trip to the smithy is uneventful. You pass some people in their usual alien attire, periodically getting sidelong looks, and walk around buildings built using methods and deigns foreign to you. You pass by the grocer with it its strange foods and the rope maker with is oddly textured wares, until you reach Weyland's Smithy.
>Walking inside the building, you are assault by another wave of cloying heat. You do not see Weyland at his anvil. It takes a moment for you to notice him sitting in a corner, with a brown clay tankard in hand. He nods toward you and says something, gesturing toward the opposite wall.
>Looking over, you see the familiar sword handle peeking out from a ratty unlaqceured, leather sheathe hanging from a peg in the wall.

>_