Nue Quest 8 - Pagan: A Z-Machine Adventure

[Hello Purvis]

> "Let's head out, then."
> Exit the house, open the umbrella once we're out of the doorway, and head towards Kourindou on foot, unless the ground is yucky or someone suggests we fly for the sake of speed.

>You head outside, opening your new blue umbrella and savoring the dryness. The three of you make your way along the road northward, Alice slightly taking the lead. As she does, she talks a little bit about the forest, largely telling Mamizou about it's other residents, Marisa, Kogasa, Mystia, and so on. She also describes several major faeries, and it's clear from her tone that she doesn't seem to care much for them. This conservation takes you down the road and past the point where you recognize Marisa's house being, until you can see the back of Kourindou up ahead, barely concealed by the trees.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Oh, by the way, do you know if Reimu and Marisa returned from Makai yet?"

[Hello Purvis]

> "Oh, by the way, do you know if Reimu and Marisa returned from Makai yet?"

>"I've not heard about it," says Alice, "But I've been inside all day."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Oh well, we'll find out sooner or later. Anyway, I'll probably need to talk to whoever's guarding this place right now so we can get in."
> Work our way around to the front of the store.

[Hello Purvis]

> "Oh well, we'll find out sooner or later. Anyway, I'll probably need to talk to whoever's guarding this place right now so we can get in."
> Work our way around to the front of the store.

>"I imagine so," says Alice. Mamizou seems to be interested in the various bits of furniture strewn about the yard.
>You make your way to the front of the store, and find the front door is still open.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Hey, it's me. I have two guests."
> Head iside.

[Hello Purvis]

> "Hey, it's me. I have two guests."
> Head iside.

>"Sure, come on in!" comes the voice of Patchouli's familiar.
>Inside, you find the red-haired devil sitting in a chair that she seems to have salvaged from outside. She doesn't look up at you, instead using a nail file and pausing to admire the results. Hatate is tied up in the corner, with a gag in her mouth; she gives you a venomous glare as you walk inside.
>"The gruesome twosome are downstairs," says the familiar. "They've been arguing, no surprise."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Sounds like fun. Did Patchouli give you the green light on the whole pet thing?"

[Hello Purvis]

> "Sounds like fun. Did Patchouli give you the green light on the whole pet thing?"

>"Noooo, we have to let her go," says the familiar, pouting a little. "She said if we kept her then no one would be around to drive Aya mad."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Huh. Yes, I suppose that's true. I'm surprised Aya hasn't swung by yet, to be honest.  Maybe you could keep her as a pet instead?"

[Hello Purvis]

> "Huh. Yes, I suppose that's true. I'm surprised Aya hasn't swung by yet, to be honest.  Maybe you could keep her as a pet instead?"

>"Maybe!" she says, grinning. "And yeah, where is she, anyways?"

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Have the other two entered yet? If not move out of the doorway so they can.
> "No idea. I'm surprised Mystia isn't here, either, I figured she would return here after our last conversation."

[Hello Purvis]

> Have the other two entered yet? If not move out of the doorway so they can.
> "No idea. I'm surprised Mystia isn't here, either, I figured she would return here after our last conversation."

>"Oh, she did!" says the familiar. "But there wasn't much to do here, and she didn't think there'd be much she could do that the gruesome twosome couldn't, so she went back to check on some things."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Ah, alright."
> Rub chin in thought.
> "Actually, since you say Aya hasn't been around yet...maybe we should release Hatate before Aya gets here. It gives her the first story while there's enough of us here now to make sure nothing untoward happens."

[Hello Purvis]

> "Ah, alright."
> Rub chin in thought.
> "Actually, since you say Aya hasn't been around yet...maybe we should release Hatate before Aya gets here. It gives her the first story while there's enough of us here now to make sure nothing untoward happens."

>Mamizou walks in as you talk, and looks at Hatate with widened eyes and a frown. Alice is right behind her, and regards the situation impassively.
>"Do I have to?" says teh red-haired devil, frowning. "Patchy said I could have her until we were done..."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Raise an eyebrow.
> "What are you going to do with her until then?"

[Hello Purvis]

> Raise an eyebrow.
> "What are you going to do with her until then?"

>"Keep her, obviously," says the familiar.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Well, yes, but what else?"

[Hello Purvis]

> "Well, yes, but what else?"

>The familiar shrugs. "Whatever I think of."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Put on an ever-so-slightly worried look and give a quick look over to Hatate before looking back to Koakuma.
> "You sure you wouldn't rather have Aya instead?"

[Hello Purvis]

> Put on an ever-so-slightly worried look and give a quick look over to Hatate before looking back to Koakuma.
> "You sure you wouldn't rather have Aya instead?"

>"Ah, but this is the genius of my plan," she says, grinning. "I could get both!"

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "You could, but in thinking on it, do you think Aya will show up by herself? She must be busy if she didn't get here by now. If Hatate here goes missing for a while, do you think they'll send Aya after her, or do you think they'll send a patrol of guards?"

[Hello Purvis]

> "You could, but in thinking on it, do you think Aya will show up by herself? She must be busy if she didn't get here by now. If Hatate here goes missing for a while, do you think they'll send Aya after her, or do you think they'll send a patrol of guards?"

>"Ehhhh..." says the red-haired youkai, her smile fading.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "On the other hand, if Hatate here goes back home and says she couldn't get a story because the place was locked up too tight for anyone to get in, the tengu patrols won't give a damn. But if who do you think might be very interested in proving Hatate 'wrong' and trying to get the story for herself at the same time?"
> Glance over at Hatate to see if she visibly reacts to our speech.

[Hello Purvis]

> "On the other hand, if Hatate here goes back home and says she couldn't get a story because the place was locked up too tight for anyone to get in, the tengu patrols won't give a damn. But if who do you think might be very interested in proving Hatate 'wrong' and trying to get the story for herself at the same time?"
> Glance over at Hatate to see if she visibly reacts to our speech.

>You glance over toward Hatate while speaking. She seems to be trying to hate the both of your into some kind of medical condition.
>"Eeeeeh, that could work..." says the familiar. "But if you ask me, a bird in the hand is way better than two in the bush."
>Alice walks across the room, looking around with a small frown on her face, and makes her way toward the far door.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "The way I see it, you either get one now that you can't keep or you get one later than you can."

[Hello Purvis]

> "The way I see it, you either get one now that you can't keep or you get one later than you can."

>"I dunno," says the red-haired youkai. "You really think that Patchy would let me keep Aya? I am pretty sure she hates her."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Sounds like all the more reason to domesticate her. But we're headed down that way now, so I can ask if you like."

[Hello Purvis]

> "Sounds like all the more reason to domesticate her. But we're headed down that way now, so I can ask if you like."

>"Well, okay, if you want to," says the familair with a shrug.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Sounds good."
> Look back over at Hatate.
> "How's that sound? You get your story and your freedom, and you help the little devil over here adopt Aya as a new pet."