Kisume Quest VII - A Z-Machine Adventure

[Hello Purvis]

>Just to confirm, when we die we'll be brought before the Yama, right? Will we remember everything we know about this or will it be fuzzy or something? Is it karmically good or bad to consider suicide for a perceived greater good?

>Presuming nothing unusual, you will journey to the Sanzu River, and to Higan. You will meet the Yama, and you will have to account for your life. You should have full knowledge of yourself during this time.
>As far as suicide on behalf of another, it depends. You aren't aware of all the moral calculus behind it, but you know that a noble sacrifice tends to work in the deceased favor to some degree, depending on the situation.  You imagine it depends on how necessary the sacrifice is, within the capacity of the person who made the sacrifice, based on the situation and the knowledge they have at the time.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

All right, let's have some fun.

> Take a moment in silence, then shrug.
> "Well, if that's how things are going to be, I guess I don't have much of a choice left. You can go ahead and shoot me."

[Hello Purvis]

> Take a moment in silence, then shrug.
> "Well, if that's how things are going to be, I guess I don't have much of a choice left. You can go ahead and shoot me."

>"You'll understand I would rather keep your more dangerous friend in my sights instead at the moment," says Sombraluz. "After all, you did spurn us to help her."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "If you insist."
> Reach down into the bucket for the throwing star.
> "I figured you'd want the pleasure, but I have no problem just offing myself."

[O4rfish]

Is this a bluff or what?

[Kilgamayan]

Who knows~?

[O4rfish]

If we were working together, we might put commands and ooc goals and strategy in the same post.

[Kilgamayan]

Start with Post #466 and read on from there. I'm sure you'll figure it out.

[O4rfish]

Well then, we need some impressive last words. I don't think the Kisume of past Z-machine adventures would grandstand, but for this quest she would.
>"Sombraluz, your empire has put my land in jeopardy, and my people aren't even aware. Your emperor has a strong and encompassing grip on your countrymens' allegiance, and the dissenters seem to have no hope of resurgence, let alone rebellion. You have bested me for what is certain to be the last time, and my prospects for negotiation or repatriation look bleak and dismal. My options are limited, but I still have enough power to make a statement, albeit one that few may hear of and fewer understand. "
>"Kasen, I apologize for leaving you. Perhaps someday we'll meet again ... on the other side."
>Insert shuriken into neck, point first.

[Kilgamayan]

Whoa, hold up there!

>"Sombraluz, your empire has put my land in jeopardy, and my people aren't even aware. Your emperor has a strong and encompassing grip on your countrymens' allegiance, and the dissenters seem to have no hope of resurgence, let alone rebellion. You have bested me for what is certain to be the last time, and my prospects for negotiation or repatriation look bleak and dismal. My options are limited, but I still have enough power to make a statement, albeit one that few may hear of and fewer understand. "
>"Kasen, I apologize for leaving you. Perhaps someday we'll meet again ... on the other side."
>Insert shuriken into neck, point first.

> Don't do any of this yet.

I can appreciate the showmanship, but there is a certaiin amount of dialogue that needs to play out first. For the the time being, this is a bluff.

[Hello Purvis]

> "If you insist."
> Reach down into the bucket for the throwing star.
> "I figured you'd want the pleasure, but I have no problem just offing myself."

>You reach down and grab a throwing star. As you do, the Agent's weapon swings his weapon toward you. There is a deafening noise and a flash from the front of it, causing you to instinctively wince.
>"Now!" Kasen cries, while you hear a muffled Kosan curse from the agent.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Bucket charge toward Sombraluz's torso!

[Kilgamayan]

> WAIT SCRATCH THAT DON'T DO IT

[Kilgamayan]

> Charge at Sombraluz, but instead aim for the arm holding the weapon. Try to latch onto his arm and grab at the weapon to keep him from using it again.

[Hello Purvis]

> Charge at Sombraluz, but instead aim for the arm holding the weapon. Try to latch onto his arm and grab at the weapon to keep him from using it again.

>You fly at the Agent, arming for his right arm. Flying at him, you note that he seems to be having some trouble controlling his weapon. ...Is that a hand on it?
>Seeing you coming toward him, he lets go of the weapon and ducks out of the way, leaving you to stop as quickly as you can before you collide into the wall!

>_

[Kilgamayan]

Let's see. If he was at the south wall and we were at the north wall...

> In which direction did he duck?

EDIT: No shooting, no tackling. We're going for a restrain here.

[Hello Purvis]

> In which direction did he duck?

>He ducked eastward, and away from both you and Kasen.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Slam the brakes on the toward-the-wall momentum!
> Turn ourselves so we're facing eastward.

[Hello Purvis]

> Slam the brakes on the toward-the-wall momentum!
> Turn ourselves so we're facing eastward.

>You come to a halt before smacking into the wall, turning  face eastward, as the Agent continues to back away, keeping his eyes moving between you and Kasen.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Is he between us?

[Hello Purvis]

> Is he between us?

>No. You are very technically between he and Kasen; though you and Kasen both at opposite sides of the hall now.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Call over our shoulder, keeping our eyes on Sombraluz, while slowly floating a little bit to the west.
> "Fence to the east."

[Hello Purvis]

> Call over our shoulder, keeping our eyes on Sombraluz, while slowly floating a little bit to the west.
> "Fence to the east."

>"I'm not sure if I can," says Kasen, as you drift back a bit.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Frown, then look back at Sombraluz. Let go of the throwing star, if we haven't already, and bring that hand back out of the bucket.
> "Then I guess you have a choice to make, knowing what you do about Sariel."

[O4rfish]

>Status of gun?
>Assuming gun is possessed by Kasen: "I'll leave you to think on it. Kasen, we're leaving."

[Kilgamayan]

>Assuming gun is possessed by Kasen: "I'll leave you to think on it. Kasen, we're leaving."

> Hold up on this.

I don't want to leave yet, I have some more stuff to say.

And yes, I'm aware of the oncoming guards.

[Hello Purvis]

> Frown, then look back at Sombraluz. Let go of the throwing star, if we haven't already, and bring that hand back out of the bucket.
> "Then I guess you have a choice to make, knowing what you do about Sariel."

>You let go of the weapon and place your hand back in sight.
>He doesn't say anything, he is busy watching the both of you.

>Status of gun?

>You don't immediately know.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "It's your choice. You can run. I won't stop you. We both know I couldn't if I wanted to. You can run, and there will still be chaos. I may avoid getting myself involved in Kosa's stupid slapfights, but you'll still have the Empire fighting the rebels. Still have property damage, injuries, maybe even a good number of deaths before things get resolved. Or you can nut up, and work to actually eliminate the true enemy. Take out the person that's been misleading your Emperor for years. Take the first step to really stop the violence and chaos. Be a better person than Yumemi is."

[Hello Purvis]

> "It's your choice. You can run. I won't stop you. We both know I couldn't if I wanted to. You can run, and there will still be chaos. I may avoid getting myself involved in Kosa's stupid slapfights, but you'll still have the Empire fighting the rebels. Still have property damage, injuries, maybe even a good number of deaths before things get resolved. Or you can nut up, and work to actually eliminate the true enemy. Take out the person that's been misleading your Emperor for years. Take the first step to really stop the violence and chaos. Be a better person than Yumemi is."

>"How has she been misleading us for years?" says Sombraluz.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "She said she's been here since before the Empire. From what I can tell, Yumemi made that Okazaki Drive thing before the rise of the Empire, too. Sariel would know all about Gensokyo, being from there, which means Yumemi gave her a revenge opportunity. She's told the Emperor that Higan is its capital, that Gensokyo's citizens work toward it, revere it, keep it in mind at all times."
> Tilt our head back toward wherever we think Kasen is.
> "I think you've heard at least one person claim otherwise."