Nue Quest 8 - Pagan: A Z-Machine Adventure

[Hello Purvis]

> "Have fun."
> Exit the shop.

>You make your way out of the shop, opening your borrowed umbrella as you step out into the rain.
>"I expect that I am not to mention all of that to anyone?" says Mamizou.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "If possible, yeah. Don't worry about the tengu, though, she'll get over it eventually."
> Take flight and head toward the Human Village, talking along the way.
> "So while I'm taking care of things in the Temple, you two should tour the town. Meet up back somewhere in view of the Temple if you finish before I do, but try not to enter if you can avoid it. Alice, be warned; if you've had business with Rinnosuke in the past, he can and will get into your head and make you do stuff for him if he thinks he needs to. Best for you to stay away from him until it's safe."

[Hello Purvis]

> "If possible, yeah. Don't worry about the tengu, though, she'll get over it eventually."
> Take flight and head toward the Human Village, talking along the way.
> "So while I'm taking care of things in the Temple, you two should tour the town. Meet up back somewhere in view of the Temple if you finish before I do, but try not to enter if you can avoid it. Alice, be warned; if you've had business with Rinnosuke in the past, he can and will get into your head and make you do stuff for him if he thinks he needs to. Best for you to stay away from him until it's safe."

>You take to the air and head northward.
>Mamizou nods as you explain your plan. Alice does not seem to be listening, she starts visibly as you mention her name, then nods. "I have no intention of getting tangled up with Rinnosuke. We've had dealings from time to time, but I don't feel the need to get involved with his affairs."
>"I will be happy to look around town in the meantime, says Mamizou."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Good. Likely for the best, because all bets are off once I grab this sword."

[Hello Purvis]

> "Good. Likely for the best, because all bets are off once I grab this sword."

>Alice nods. "I'll be certain not to get between you and it."
>The trip to the human village is uneventful and wet. There doesn't seem to be anyone on the road, which is hardly a surprise. Nearing the town itself, you find that the main intersection is empty, there are hardly any signs of the crowd that was there some hours ago. You can see the occasion person walking on the roads here and there, but the town is largely quiet. You can see  lights at the tavern.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Eh, why not? Make our way over to the tavern.

[Hello Purvis]

> Eh, why not? Make our way over to the tavern.

>You descend down toward the tavern.  The front door hangs open, and you can quickly recognize Tenshi and her sitting at one of the tables, the former leaning back in her chair with her feet up on the table. She seems to be talking about something.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Her what?

[Hello Purvis]

> Her what?

>Students.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Give a quick wave to whoever at the table has us in their line of vision and make our way over.

[Hello Purvis]

> Give a quick wave to whoever at the table has us in their line of vision and make our way over.

>You wave, and catch the eye of a couple of celestials, one who waves back, and make your way inside. You note that Mokou is at the bar, looking a little bored. Otherwise, the place seems to be empty.
>"And so I said to her," Tenshi says, "'Try that crap one more- Oh, hey Nue."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "'Sup. Did you ever find that thing you were looking for yesterday?"

[Hello Purvis]

> "'Sup. Did you ever find that thing you were looking for yesterday?"

>"No luck," says Tenshi. She sighs and shrugs. "And we beat up like five people while looking, too..."
>"It wasn't that many, Lady Hinanai," says one of the celestials, drawing a nasty look from Tenshi.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Sucks. Did you try the ghost girl at the top of that really long flight of stairs? I met her yesterday and have been wondering since if you'd taken a crack at her."

[Hello Purvis]

> "Sucks. Did you try the ghost girl at the top of that really long flight of stairs? I met her yesterday and have been wondering since if you'd taken a crack at her."

>"No, not yet," says Tenshi. "Mostly we were looking around the forest and the mountains."
>"We got a little lost," says one of the celestials.
>"No we didn't!" says Tenshi.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Snicker on the inside, but try not to let it show.
> "I see. So what's the general mood of this town right now? I'm ready to put an end to this money nonsense, but I'm a mite worried the culprit may have had some influence here while I was cavorting around. Influence beyond taking money, I mean."

[Hello Purvis]

> Snicker on the inside, but try not to let it show.
> "I see. So what's the general mood of this town right now? I'm ready to put an end to this money nonsense, but I'm a mite worried the culprit may have had some influence here while I was cavorting around. Influence beyond taking money, I mean."

>You're well practiced at laughing on the inside while smiling on the outside.
>"Uh," says Tenshi, frowning and giving you a questioning look. "I guess people are pretty pissed? Don't ask me, I don't bother with that stuff."
>"It's been calm enough, since we got here," says one of the celestials. "I would think they are deeply unhappy, but from what I have seen, they are bearing it well."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Good, no abnormalities. All right. I don't quite know how this is going to go down, but it could get dangerous. The new toy at my side isn't just for show. If any of you happen to overhear someone expressing a desire to head over to the Temple, please let them know that they need to steer clear of it for the time being, okay?"

[Hello Purvis]

> "Good, no abnormalities. All right. I don't quite know how this is going to go down, but it could get dangerous. The new toy at my side isn't just for show. If any of you happen to overhear someone expressing a desire to head over to the Temple, please let them know that they need to steer clear of it for the time being, okay?"

>"Um, okay?" says Tenshi. "I guess. And that's a weird sword you got. You thinking about leaving that stupid fork behind and learning a real weapon?"

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Not this one. This thing has a will of its own, and as soon as business is concluded it's getting scrapped."

[Hello Purvis]

> "Not this one. This thing has a will of its own, and as soon as business is concluded it's getting scrapped."

>"Well good," says Tenshi. "If you walk around with something like that, you're probably going to get it taken away."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Grin at Tenshi.
> "Not too many that can take stuff off me if I'm awake to not want them to."
> Look over at Mokou.
> "Hey, Mokou, can you verbally shoo people away from the Temple too?"

[Hello Purvis]

> Grin at Tenshi.
> "Not too many that can take stuff off me if I'm awake to not want them to."
> Look over at Mokou.
> "Hey, Mokou, can you verbally shoo people away from the Temple too?"

>"Good thing I'm not too many," says Tenshi.
>"Yeah, sure thing," she says. "If there's trouble, I'll make sure to keep people out of the way."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Great."
> Turn back to Alice and Mamizou.
> "I believe this is where we separate, then."

[Hello Purvis]

> "Great."
> Turn back to Alice and Mamizou.
> "I believe this is where we separate, then."

>"Well, it's been quite a while since I've had some proper sake as well," says Mamizou, "So this will be fine. Shall we meet back here?"

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Yeah, this works. Probably better than at the temple, given the circumstances."
> Jerk a thumb toward Tenshi.
> "And you can keep this one here until I return, so we can have some delightfully pleasant conversation about what 'stupid forks' can be good for."

[Hello Purvis]

> "Yeah, this works. Probably better than at the temple, given the circumstances."
> Jerk a thumb toward Tenshi.
> "And you can keep this one here until I return, so we can have some delightfully pleasant conversation about what 'stupid forks' can be good for."

>"I expect you want me to go easy on her?" says Mamizou.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "You shouldn't have to. Tenshi doesn't run away."

[Hello Purvis]

> "You shouldn't have to. Tenshi doesn't run away."

>"Oh good," says Mamizou, "That will make collecting payments all the easier."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Yep. See you all in a bit."
> Exit the tavern and walk on over to the Temple.