Nue Quest 9 - Ascension: A Z-Machine Adventure

[Hello Purvis]

> "A shame. Oh! Speaking of Shou's umbrellas, where did Mystia end up?"

>"She was upstairs," says Petite. "...I kinda forgot about her after that."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Frown.
> "She isn't now...huh."
> How far along is the Eirin-unearthing process?

[Hello Purvis]

> Frown.
> "She isn't now...huh."
> How far along is the Eirin-unearthing process?

>They seem to have most of her torso uncovered by now.
>"She was there when I arrived," says Alice. "I swear she even followed us down here, I think she remarked on the pages flooding the stairs."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Look back toward the doorway.
> "...Do you lot mind if I investigate upstairs?"

[Hello Purvis]

> Look back toward the doorway.
> "...Do you lot mind if I investigate upstairs?"

>"If you like," says Patchouli.
>Alice nods. "I don't think any of us have any objections."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "All right."
> Turn back around and make our way to the doorframe tunnel.

[Hello Purvis]

> "All right."
> Turn back around and make our way to the doorframe tunnel.

>You make your way out of the tunnel, pleased to see that Mamizou as widened it a bit, and return to the stairs.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Head back upstairs.
> Once we've reached the top...
> "Mystia? You here?"

[Hello Purvis]

> Head back upstairs.
> Once we've reached the top...
> "Mystia? You here?"

>You head back upstairs into the back room, and call out for Mystia. There is no answer.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Look around. Anything unusual?
> If not, head back out to the front room and look around for any signs of a recent scuffle.

[Hello Purvis]

> Look around. Anything unusual?
> If not, head back out to the front room and look around for any signs of a recent scuffle.

>You look around, and see nothing unusual save for the startling emptiness of the room.
>Heading to the front room, you have a look around. There doesn't seem to be any obvious signs of a struggle, but you do note the ropes that were binding Hatate are laying on the ground near were she was the last time you were here, and the gag seems to be in the corner.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Head back downstairs to, but not through, the tunnel.

[Hello Purvis]

> Head back downstairs to, but not through, the tunnel.

>You return down the stairs, and to the foot of the paper tunnel. You can hear a lot of paper shuffling through the tunnel, they must be getting close to freeing Eirin.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Head through the tunnel. Careful of the back!
> "Looks like they're both gone. The rope and gag are just lying there on the ground. Wouldn't surprise me if they both left at the same time, given the litany of potential reasons why."

[Hello Purvis]

> Head through the tunnel. Careful of the back!
> "Looks like they're both gone. The rope and gag are just lying there on the ground. Wouldn't surprise me if they both left at the same time, given the litany of potential reasons why."

>You make your way back through the tunnel gingerly. It's not pleasant, but you're careful enough to avoid banging a wing. As you emerge from the tunnel, you see Alice, Petite, and Mamizou lifting Eirin from the avalanche.
>You explain your findings to the others. "Oh well," says Patchouli, "She had served her role, no need to keep her any longer."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "For these functional purposes, yeah. But I still want to go out and find her once we're done here."

[Hello Purvis]

> "For these functional purposes, yeah. But I still want to go out and find her once we're done here."

>"Of course," says Patchouli.
>"In the meantime," Eirin says, as the others set her on the ground,"I expect you'll want me to treat your back?"

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Oh. Well. Yeah, I guess. As long as it doesn't take too long, since our Avalon clock is still ticking."

[Hello Purvis]

> "Oh. Well. Yeah, I guess. As long as it doesn't take too long, since our Avalon clock is still ticking."

>"It shouldn't take too long," says Eirin. "Just lay down somewhere here that looks comfortable, and slip down the back of your dress so I can have a better look."
>She looks over. "And the rest of you may be on your way. No need to gawk at her."
>"Sure there is!" says Patchouli's familiar.
>"No," says Patchouli, "We're leaving."
>"Awwww."

>_

[Shadoweh]

Didn't Alice say Mystia came down with them? I was getting the impression she's buried somewhere in the papers.

[Kilgamayan]

She was with Petite and Alice when the papers spawned. If she got buried by papers it's because she dug herself into them somehow.

> How would we go about slipping down the back of our dress? Preferably not just taking it off entirely.
> "Mamizou should probably stay."
> Look over at Mamizou.
> "Unless you feel like wandering around."

[Hello Purvis]

She was with Petite and Alice when the papers spawned. If she got buried by papers it's because she dug herself into them somehow.

> How would we go about slipping down the back of our dress? Preferably not just taking it off entirely.
> "Mamizou should probably stay."
> Look over at Mamizou.
> "Unless you feel like wandering around."

>You wouldn't have to take it off entirely, but you would have to unbutton the front and slip it down.
>"Well, I was going to wait outside and maybe poke around the furniture out there," says Mamizou.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Oh. Yeah, that'll be fine. Let me know if you find anything interesting."
> Look around the swaths of papers. Anywhere that looks like it wouldn't be really uncomfortable to lie on?

[Hello Purvis]

> "Oh. Yeah, that'll be fine. Let me know if you find anything interesting."
> Look around the swaths of papers. Anywhere that looks like it wouldn't be really uncomfortable to lie on?

>"Of course," says Mamizou, as she goes to join the queue of people filing out through the tunnel.
>You don't think there's going to be any place to lay on that could be considered comfortable, but there is a little hill to the left that shouldn't be too bad.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Head over to that hill and angle ourselves so we'd be facing the tunnel if we lay down on our stomach on it.
> Give people a chance to at least get in the tunnel, then lie down on our stomach and unbutton and slip down our dress as instructed earlier.

[Hello Purvis]

> Head over to that hill and angle ourselves so we'd be facing the tunnel if we lay down on our stomach on it.
> Give people a chance to at least get in the tunnel, then lie down on our stomach and unbutton and slip down our dress as instructed earlier.

>You let the others slip out, and make sure you have a good view of the tunnel. Then you follow Eirin's instructions and lay down. The paper doesn't feel especially comfortable, but it's probably no worse than the dusty wooden floors above or the mud outside.
>Eirin kneels down beside you. "I'm going to have to prod at this a bit, so be ready for that. And, I must say, it looks like an oni hit you with a brick wall."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "The giant ox I mentioned stepped on me pretty hard."
> Brace ourselves for impact.

[Hello Purvis]

> "The giant ox I mentioned stepped on me pretty hard."
> Brace ourselves for impact.

>"Yes it did," says Eirin.
>You grit your teeth and are happy to have done so as she prods at some of the most raw areas and possibly pokes at them a few times with a knife; at least that's how it feels!
>After much too long of this, she says, "This is nasty, but the good news is that it only seems to be injury. I don't note any contaminants setting in from this just yet, and it doesn't seem to have left any bits of hoof that need to be dug out. Your upper right wing is sprained, and I think that will be the problem to linger longest once we're done here. Overall, I expect you should make a full recovery. Hold still, I'm going to apply some balm to keep any later infections at bay, then I'll give you something for the wounds themselves. It won't be one hundred percent effective, especially for that wing, but you'll feel a lot better than you do now. I'd recommend sleeping on your stomach tonight, regardless."

>_

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Lovely. Stupid git getting mad at me for not wanting to be brainwashed. Hope it has fun with Suwako."

[Hello Purvis]

> "Lovely. Stupid git getting mad at me for not wanting to be brainwashed. Hope it has fun with Suwako."

>"It's how divine things are," says Eirin, as you hear her rubbing her hands together. "They can be quite amazingly petty. Especially primitive ones like that, they've not have ages of civilization to teach them how people should behave."
>She then puts her hands on your back, and it's time to get your teeth again, while part of your mind wonders if she's sharpened her fingernails especially for this kind of thing.
>After a few moments, Eirin stops and says, "Let's allow that a few moments to evaporate, then we'll finish up."

>_