Nue Quest 8 - Pagan: A Z-Machine Adventure

[Kilgamayan]

> Purse our lips in thought for a few moments.
> "...Nah, I guess not."

[Hello Purvis]

> Purse our lips in thought for a few moments.
> "...Nah, I guess not."

>He nods. "So what are you here for? Finally decided to get that torc you were eyeing earlier?"

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Well, I actually came by to offer an explanation about those marks, since I'm not sure how long it will be before I'm in this area again, or even if I ever am. But over the course of this conversation, I realized how implausible the explanation would probably seem."

[Hello Purvis]

> "Well, I actually came by to offer an explanation about those marks, since I'm not sure how long it will be before I'm in this area again, or even if I ever am. But over the course of this conversation, I realized how implausible the explanation would probably seem."

>He nods. "Well, knock yourself out."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "All right. As many people have probably already guessed from my attire, I am not actually not from this land."

[Hello Purvis]

> "All right. As many people have probably already guessed from my attire, I am not actually not from this land."

>"I thought you looked a bit like a Frank," he says.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "It goes a bit further than that. It turns out I'm not even from this continent."

[Hello Purvis]

> "It goes a bit further than that. It turns out I'm not even from this continent."

>"Neither are they," says the jeweler, "At least as far as decent folks are concerned. So, you're not a Frank, eh? Well, alright then. I guess those gems with the little toenail-like scratches are from your place?"

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "They are, but there's a long story behind how they got there. Rest assured our jewels don't normally come with those. Regardless, both they and I come from a country called Japan, which resides in the continent of Asia. Assuming Sir Kay was being truthful earlier, it sounds as though Avalon's maps don't extend out that far."

[Hello Purvis]

> "They are, but there's a long story behind how they got there. Rest assured our jewels don't normally come with those. Regardless, both they and I come from a country called Japan, which resides in the continent of Asia. Assuming Sir Kay was being truthful earlier, it sounds as though Avalon's maps don't extend out that far."

>He shakes his head. "Never heard of it."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Nod.
> "Yeah, I figured. Like I said, fairly implausible. And where I'm from, I'm fairly sure most, if not all, of us have heard of Europe. But even with two lands that know nothing of each other's existence, I was - and still am - pleasantly surprised to learn that the craft has transcended those geographical barriers."

[Hello Purvis]

> Nod.
> "Yeah, I figured. Like I said, fairly implausible. And where I'm from, I'm fairly sure most, if not all, of us have heard of Europe. But even with two lands that know nothing of each other's existence, I was - and still am - pleasantly surprised to learn that the craft has transcended those geographical barriers."

>"Well, you know," he says, "If there's anything worth stealing somewhere, someone will have thought of it. And if there's anything our sort's good at, is running away when things get too hot. Doesn't surprise me one of ours' figured out how to get from here to there, or back again, out of need to get away from the law."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "I suppose that's all true."
> Give a small side-of-the-mouth smile.
> "Doesn't make the discovery any less pleasant, though."

[Hello Purvis]

> "I suppose that's all true."
> Give a small side-of-the-mouth smile.
> "Doesn't make the discovery any less pleasant, though."

>"Imagine it wouldn't," he says, giving a wink in return.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Anyway, I need to keep moving on. But it was a pleasure to meet you, Mr...Briocht, if I read the sign outside correctly?"

[Hello Purvis]

> "Anyway, I need to keep moving on. But it was a pleasure to meet you, Mr...Briocht, if I read the sign outside correctly?"

>He nods. "Aye, that's my name, and my pa's name. But, you said something about the gems?"

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Right, yes. Those marks are actually writing in my language, stacked on top of one another to the point of unfortunate unreadability. It might have helped my case to Sir Kay at the time if he could read my language, but it seems to have worked out in the end anyway."

[Hello Purvis]

> "Right, yes. Those marks are actually writing in my language, stacked on top of one another to the point of unfortunate unreadability. It might have helped my case to Sir Kay at the time if he could read my language, but it seems to have worked out in the end anyway."

>"Well don't that beat all?" he says. "What's a bunch of writing doing in them, then?"

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Side effect of a really bizarre glamour that's been cast far and wide across my region of my country. There's been a massive influx of gems, and they appear to have been transmuted from books."

[Hello Purvis]

> "Side effect of a really bizarre glamour that's been cast far and wide across my region of my country. There's been a massive influx of gems, and they appear to have been transmuted from books."

>Briocht raises an eyebrow. "That so? Sounds like a damn fine glamour. ...It lasts, right?"

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "It's lasted so far. We're trying to get it fixed, but given the circumstances, I don't believe any gems left here would be affected even by a second large-scale glamour to undo the first one.  I used one to pay for this mahogany, so we'll find out sooner or later."

[Hello Purvis]

> "It's lasted so far. We're trying to get it fixed, but given the circumstances, I don't believe any gems left here would be affected even by a second large-scale glamour to undo the first one.  I used one to pay for this mahogany, so we'll find out sooner or later."

>He nods. "I'll keep that in mind, if she tries to sell it to me. I'm thinking it was Glenda the carver, right?"

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Yeah, I believe so."

[Hello Purvis]

> "Yeah, I believe so."

>"I'll keep my eye on her if she comes in, believe you me," he says, drawing his mouth into a hard line. "Won't say a word about you, mind."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Right, and I appreciate it. I would also like to return here at some point, it's an interesting place, and I expect things will be resolved in my home by the next time I'm here, so we'll both know for sure then."

[Hello Purvis]

> "Right, and I appreciate it. I would also like to return here at some point, it's an interesting place, and I expect things will be resolved in my home by the next time I'm here, so we'll both know for sure then."

>He nods. "Right you are, then. I'll keep an eye open for you."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Great. Ah! Before I leave, there is one other thing I've been curious about. We did manage a small glamour of our own to learn what was written on a pearl. It sounded like it came from a poetry book, but it wasn't a passage any of us recognized. Would you have happened to heard of Nessus, Cecina or Corneto?"

[Hello Purvis]

> "Great. Ah! Before I leave, there is one other thing I've been curious about. We did manage a small glamour of our own to learn what was written on a pearl. It sounded like it came from a poetry book, but it wasn't a passage any of us recognized. Would you have happened to heard of Nessus, Cecina or Corneto?"

>He shakes his head. "That sounds like Imperial stuff, if you ask me. No love around to lose for them, I'll warn you."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "All right, then. What the writing itself said wasn't a big deal, I was just curious, so that works out."

[Hello Purvis]

> "All right, then. What the writing itself said wasn't a big deal, I was just curious, so that works out."

>Briocht nods. "Happy to help, then."

>_