Sword Quest III - A Z-Machine Adventure

[Kilgamayan]

> "I suppose they may come off that way. All right, I believe that is all I need to know. Thank you again for your help."
> Assuming the woman doesn't stop us, hurry back to the city entrance and head westward from there, looking for the clinic.

[Hello Purvis]

> "I suppose they may come off that way. All right, I believe that is all I need to know. Thank you again for your help."
> Assuming the woman doesn't stop us, hurry back to the city entrance and head westward from there, looking for the clinic.

>"Sure thing, Sis," says the youkai, "Bye!"
>She closes the door, and you make your way back through the city, slipping through the crowds as fast as you can. There are definitely some oni watch you as you make your way back up the main thoroughfare. Soon, the gates are in sight, and you find the small road along the city wall. Folloing it westward, you pass some homes and some empty buildings. While there seems to be a lot of traffic here, given the condition of the street, many of the buildings don't seem to be subject to much attention. It doesn't take you too long to find what is likely the clinic, an unassuming  building with a banner hung along the front, with a variety of medical symbols adorning it.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Is there anyone outside the clinic that is clearly currently maintaining it?
> For that matter, is there anyone outside the clinic that is someone we know or otherwise recognize?
> Is there any indication on the outside of the building that the clinic is Buddhist-run?

[Hello Purvis]

> Is there anyone outside the clinic that is clearly currently maintaining it?
> For that matter, is there anyone outside the clinic that is someone we know or otherwise recognize?
> Is there any indication on the outside of the building that the clinic is Buddhist-run?

>There is no one outside at the moment.
>Nothing really signifies this place as especially buddhist.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Take a cleansing breath. This is very likely to be unpleasant.
> Put on a neutral expression, as if we are not about to walk into a Buddhist-run clinic, and casually enter the clinic.

[Hello Purvis]

> Take a cleansing breath. This is very likely to be unpleasant.
> Put on a neutral expression, as if we are not about to walk into a Buddhist-run clinic, and casually enter the clinic.

>You walk inside, doing your best to stay composed.
>Inside, you find a number of cots have been set up, several of them occupied by oni. At a glance, none of them seem particularly injured, most are asleep. The smell of soap hangs in the air, and you note the cots have buckets placed discreetly on the floor just below where the pillows lie. The walls are clean, and bear several hand-drawn posters featuring lotuses, serenely smiling buddhas, and slogans such as "The pain is but the voice of the body, set your thoughts higher than it."
>More immediately is a tall youkai with a blonde hair marked with black stripes, wearing a lotus ornament on her head and a reddish dress with a tiger-patterned sash. She is in the process of making a bed, which comes to a stop as she sees you enter and her expression becomes carefully neutral. "Outside, please," she says.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Are Futo or Tojiko immediately visible?

[Hello Purvis]

> Are Futo or Tojiko immediately visible?

>They are not.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Look slightly  taken aback for q split second, then nod.
> "As you wish."
> Exit the clinic and wait for her or someone else to join us outside.

[Hello Purvis]

> Look slightly  taken aback for q split second, then nod.
> "As you wish."
> Exit the clinic and wait for her or someone else to join us outside.

>You look taken aback for a moment, but she does not react to that.
>You step back outside and wait. After a moment, the youkai steps out and joins you. Her face is still neutral, but it is not difficult to read the tenseness in her body language.
>"I didn't need to have the patients disturbed," she says.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Nod knowingly.
> "This is understandable. No offense is taken."

[Hello Purvis]

> Nod knowingly.
> "This is understandable. No offense is taken."

>"Good," says the tiger-striped youkai. "You're not hurt as far as I can see, and you don't look like you need a place to sleep off a hangover. So why are you here?"

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Yes. It is my understanding that Futo and Tojiko were involved in a scuffle while visiting this city earlier today, and they were given directions to this clinic. Have they stopped by?"

[Hello Purvis]

> "Yes. It is my understanding that Futo and Tojiko were involved in a scuffle while visiting this city earlier today, and they were given directions to this clinic. Have they stopped by?"

>"I haven't seen them," says the youkai. If you recall properly, this one is Byakuren's right-hand woman, Shou.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Frown.
> "That is unfortunate. In that case, have you seen anyone in the possession of a white-blue wand with wings, about a foot and a half long?"

[Hello Purvis]

> Frown.
> "That is unfortunate. In that case, have you seen anyone in the possession of a white-blue wand with wings, about a foot and a half long?"

>"Nothing like that, no," says the youkai.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Sigh.
> "it seems luck is not on my side today."

[Hello Purvis]

> Sigh.
> "it seems luck is not on my side today."

>"Hm, and why are your followers running around here without your knowing, anyways?"

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "A fine question indeed."

[Hello Purvis]

> "A fine question indeed."

>"Huh," says Shou, raising an eyebrow. "I thought you kept them on a tighter leash than that."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> How true is that? Do Futo and Tojiko typically not do anything unless we tell them, or are they given more personal freedom than that?

[Hello Purvis]

> How true is that? Do Futo and Tojiko typically not do anything unless we tell them, or are they given more personal freedom than that?

>You give them quite a bit of freedom, as you no longer officially hold power over them anymore, but you do expect them to tell you what they're up to.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Give a small smile and shrug.
> "As much as I am aware everything they do is a reflection of myself, they are still their own people in the end."

[Hello Purvis]

> Give a small smile and shrug.
> "As much as I am aware everything they do is a reflection of myself, they are still there own people in the end."

>"I see," says Shou. "I haven't heard anything, but I've been in this clinic all day. But if I do happen to see them, I'm be sure to tell them that you're after them."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Nod.
> "Thank you."

[Hello Purvis]

> Nod.
> "Thank you."

>"That said, I'll give you a little advice," Shou continues. "This isn't the kind of place to cause trouble. This isn't a threat, mind you, it's a warning. Nor is it on my behalf."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Of course. I am well aware of what oni are capable of, and if what I have heard is true, my friends have already experienced this first-hand."

[Hello Purvis]

> "Of course. I am well aware of what oni are capable of, and if what I have heard is true, my friends have already experienced this first-hand."

>She nods. "Still, stay out of trouble."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Always. But, perhaps you could direct me somewhere that may have more information about who and what I seek, a place that would avoid such unpleasantries?"

> Have we ever initiated an attack on any of Hijiri's followers, or otherwise intentionally directly antagonized any of them?
> Has Hijiri ever done the same to Fujo and/or Tojiko?

[Hello Purvis]

> "Always. But, perhaps you could direct me somewhere that may have more information about who and what I seek, a place that would avoid such unpleasantries?"

> Have we ever initiated an attack on any of Hijiri's followers, or otherwise intentionally directly antagonized any of them?
> Has Hijiri ever done the same to Fujo and/or Tojiko?

>"I'd ask around either the pub district, the dancehall, or the Palace of the Earth Spirits myself," says Shou. "You follow the main street over there, then go east at the really big intersection to get to the first one."
>She gestures toward the main thoroughfare you had just followed.
>"Go all the way to the end of that street and turn east for the Palace, or west then south on the next big street for the dancehall."

>_