Nue Quest 9 - Ascension: A Z-Machine Adventure

[Hello Purvis]

> Pout.
> "Do I have to?"

>"Finish up within the next few moments, at least." says Mamizou, with a dramatized sigh.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Give one last snuggle, then let go.

[Hello Purvis]

> Give one last snuggle, then let go.

>You give one last snuggle, then let go.
>Mamizou takes a moment to straighten her clothes and says, "With that out of your system, we'll try to pretend there's some semblance of dignity to salvage, yet."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "That we will. Like I said, no one finds out it happened."
> Retrieve our purse and trident and put them back where they belong.
> Is Byakuren still talking?

[Hello Purvis]

> "That we will. Like I said, no one finds out it happened."
> Retrieve our purse and trident and put them back where they belong.
> Is Byakuren still talking?

>Mamizou nods. "You still owe me a jug of sake for that."
>You reclaim your items. From what you can tell, Byakuren is seeing people off now.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Joke's on you. I was going to celebrate your return with alcohol regardless."

[Hello Purvis]

> "Joke's on you, then. I was going to celebrate your return with alcohol regardless."

>"In addition to that" says Mamizou.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Hey, don't push your luck. I have a business to run, after all."

[Hello Purvis]

> "Hey, don't push your luck. I have a business to run, after all."

>"I'm sure you won't notice the difference with kind of bottom line you'd bring in," says Mamizou.
>The doors open, and Byakuren looks inside.  You imagine she would walk in, but with the three of you here, it would be crowded. "I hope I didn't leave you waiting too long," she says.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "No, not at all."
> Get out of the entranceway so Byakuren can get inside.

[Hello Purvis]

> "No, not at all."
> Get out of the entranceway so Byakuren can get inside.

>You retreat back into the hall.
>"Nue," she says, "I'm very proud of the work you did. I know you've suffered a lot, and you've gone through more than anyone could ask. Thank you. And before we proceed any further, do you hands feel alright?"

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Do they feel any differently from normal?
> If not, say so.

[Hello Purvis]

> Do they feel any differently from normal?
> If not, say so.

>You've not noticed any problems, and say so.
>"Good, that means the counter spell is still holding," says Byakuren. "And, if we're lucky, it means that the curse itself has followed the the other enchantments and is gone now."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "I'll ask Hina to take a look. She volunteered to, well, take the curse off my hands once this was all over."
> "Anyway, endless aggravation and excruciating pain aside, this wasn't all bad. Got to meet some new people, got a change to demonstrate how great I really am for the entirety of Gensokyo, and even managed to find someone I thought was gone for good."
> Gesture toward Mamizou.
> "The tanuki here that you worked with earlier is Mamizou Futatsuiwa. I found her in Avalon. She and I go back a really long time. Between my getting sealed for a while and her leaving Japan entirely, neither of us were really sure we'd see each other again. Funny how things like this work out."

[Hello Purvis]

> "I'll ask Hina to take a look. She volunteered to, well, take the curse off my hands once this was all over."
> "Anyway, endless aggravation and excruciating pain aside, this wasn't all bad. Got to meet some new people, got a change to demonstrate how great I really am for the entirety of Gensokyo, and even managed to find someone I thought was gone for good."
> Gesture toward Mamizou.
> "The tanuki here that you worked with earlier is Mamizou Futatsuiwa. I found her in Avalon. She and I go back a really long time. Between my getting sealed for a while and her leaving Japan entirely, neither of us were really sure we'd see each other again. Funny how things like this work out."

>"I can check to see if it is necessary, in a little bit," says Byakuren. "And, I'm glad you take such a positive view on the whole experience. And, it is a pleasure to meet you, Mamizou. I am Byakuren Hijiri, and you are welcome here  whenever you like." She offers a bow toward Mamizou. "I would introduce you to the others, but they are all engaged in other important tasks at the moment.
>"I'm charmed and I'll consider that offer, Miss Hijiri." says the tanuki, returning the bow.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Turn to Mamizou.
> "In case you haven't figured it out by now. Byakuren here is the main reason you would have thought I had gone soft before I got stepped on by the giant ox and came back to yell it into submission."
> Smirk.
> "Unless you'd still like to think I've gone soft, in which case I can ask Suwako if we can borrow the sword for a little while longer."

[Hello Purvis]

> Turn to Mamizou.
> "In case you haven't figured it out by now. Byakuren here is the main reason you would have thought I had gone soft before I got stepped on by the giant ox and came back to yell it into submission."
> Smirk.
> "Unless you'd still like to think I've gone soft, in which case I can ask Suwako if we can borrow the sword for a little while longer."

>"Perhaps soft in common sense," says Mamizou with a small open-handed shrug. "But I don't think any amount of swords is going to change that notion."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Turn back to Byakuren.
> "So what do we do with him now? The people that were still at the shop have vacated the area, since his basement is basically flooded in loose papers and no money. As far as I can tell, we're all done with operations there. But that doesn't fix his current condition."

[Hello Purvis]

> Turn back to Byakuren.
> "So what do we do with him now? The people that were still at the shop have vacated the area, since his basement is basically flooded in loose papers and no money. As far as I can tell, we're all done with operations there. But that doesn't fix his current condition."

>Byakuren nods. "As far as he's concerned, our real work is about to begin. We're going to have to nurse him back to sanity, and this will likely be the work of some months. That's...going to be hard, I'm not entirely sure how we can proceed."
>She shakes her head.
>"I imagine we'll just have to feel our way through the process. But I imagine, for awhile, it is going to be like treating a wounded and cornered animal. I'm actually a little worried about people who depend on his wares, too, but I think we can ask Nazrin to help with that."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Think Ichiro and Mr. Kirisame can help with that? The latter especially."

[Hello Purvis]

> "Think Ichiro and Mr. Kirisame can help with that? The latter especially."

>"It would be nice if they could help," says Byakuren. "But I'm not too certain about asking them to assist with Kourindou, I'm sure they're both busy as it is."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Right. I was thinking helping restoring him as a person, since I expect that will be harder and take more people."

[Hello Purvis]

> "Right. I was thinking helping restoring him as a person, since I expect that will be harder and take more people."

>She nods. "I have a feeling that Mr. Kirisame will be interested in lending a hand. As for Mr. Nadano, I'm a little hesitant to speak for, but I suspect he'll pitch in now and again, at least."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Do we know anyone else that might help? Maybe those that live in the forest?"

[Hello Purvis]

> "Do we know anyone else that might help? Maybe those that live in the forest?"

>"I'm not sure," says Byakuren. "I am hoping, once we find her again, that Marisa might be willing to assist."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "I can keep an eye out for her, I guess. I'm going back in the direction of Alice's house, and I may also head up the mountain before I head home."

[Hello Purvis]

> "I can keep an eye out for her, I guess. I'm going back in the direction of Alice's house, and I may also head up the mountain before I head home."

>Byakuren nods. "I imagine she and Reimu will probably come for you, soon enough."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Shrug.
> "Guess it's to be expected."
> "Should we contact our friends Underground to tell them how things worked out? I'm sure they've already seen for themselves that money has returned, but since the influx of injured oni is likely to slow, they might want to know when they can come home."

[Hello Purvis]

> Shrug.
> "Guess it's to be expected."
> "Should we contact our friends Underground to tell them how things worked out? I'm sure they've already seen for themselves that money has returned, but since the influx of injured oni is likely to slow, they might want to know when they can come home."

>Byakuren nods. "I have the feeling we can't pull everyone out just yet. But it would be appreciated."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Do you want it done before I had planned to go back home?"