Sword Quest V - A Z-Machine Adventure

[Hello Purvis]

> Youmu: "Has their curiosity been bothersome, Koishi?"
> Miko: Grit teeth in frustration. "...Seiga, why must you do things such as this..."

>Youmu: "Yes," Koishi says. "It always bothers me."
>Miko: "'Cos if she tooold me, I could be tricked!" Yoshika says. "Can I have anotheeeeeer cherry?"

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Youmu: Have we ever been aware of the stares of curiosity upon us from large groups of people?
> Miko: Are there any cherries in the immediate vicinity?
> Miko: Look back to Yuyuko. "Is this permissible, Miss Saigyouji?"

[Hello Purvis]

> Youmu: Have we ever been aware of the stares of curiosity upon us from large groups of people?
> Miko: Are there any cherries in the immediate vicinity?
> Miko: Look back to Yuyuko. "Is this permissible, Miss Saigyouji?"

>You've certainly attracted the attention of the residents here from time to time. And you've had your share of curious stares when you've gone to the human village. Just today in fact, while you were rushing around looking for Koishi.
>Miko: You look around, and note there are some fallen cherries nearby. "Isn't it such a small cost for happiness?" says Yuyuko.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Youmu: "Ah. I hope it has been no more than curiosity, at least."

[Hello Purvis]

> Youmu: "Ah. I hope it has been no more than curiosity, at least."

>Youmu: Koishi shakes her head.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

Man, this is not looking particularly good on either end right now. We need some sort of lead on Seiga pretty badly.

> Youmu: Give a sad frown. "I see. I apologise for my inability to provide you with properly comfortable accomodations."
> Miko: Nod. "I thank you for your hospitality toward those who have wronged you."
> Miko: Obtain a cherry and gently drop it into Yoshika's mouth.

[Hello Purvis]

> Youmu: Give a sad frown. "I see. I apologise for my inability to provide you with properly comfortable accomodations."
> Miko: Nod. "I thank you for your hospitality toward those who have wronged you."
> Miko: Obtain a cherry and gently drop it into Yoshika's mouth.

>Youmu: Koishi seems to ponder this for a moment, then says, "It isn't your fault."
>Miko: "Oh, she's just so adorable," says Yuyuko, "Who could stay mad at her?"
>Miko: You collect a cherry and drop it into the jiangshi's mouth. She starts chewing on it, and says "Thanks, Prince!"

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Youmu: Are we aware of any desire-hearing ability the owly Taoist hermit has, and/or any function the earmuffs serve that is related to such?
> Miko: If Seiga were indisposed, would we be able to take the tree's energy into ourself in order to return it?

[Hello Purvis]

> Youmu: Are we aware of any desire-hearing ability the owly Taoist hermit has, and/or any function the earmuffs serve that is related to such?
> Miko: If Seiga were indisposed, would we be able to take the tree's energy into ourself in order to return it?

>Youmu: You are aware of such, though you don't really know much about how it works or why.
>Miko: You would want a vessel of some kind to transport it, but you feel you should be able to do it.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Youmu: "Hmm...I wonder if the Taoist hermit that can hear people's desires could help somehow."
> Miko: Is there any sort of way we could track Seiga's location using Yoshika as a medium?

[Hello Purvis]

> Youmu: "Hmm...I wonder if the Taoist hermit that can hear people's desires could help somehow."
> Miko: Is there any sort of way we could track Seiga's location using Yoshika as a medium?

>Youmu: "What do you mean?" says Utsuho.
>Miko: You don't think so. Well, that's a lie, you do know a properly trained magician could burn a personal object and use it to track someone. But, this would involve reducing Yoshika to ash. And finding someone who could do it.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Youmu: "It is my understanding that her earmuffs can block her from hearing the desires of those around her, I do not know quite how they work, but I wonder if something similar could be crafted for a satori."
> Miko: What if they burned Yoshika's talisman instead of Yoshika herself?

[Hello Purvis]

> Youmu: "It is my understanding that her earmuffs can block her from hearing the desires of those around her, I do not know quite how they work, but I wonder if something similar could be crafted for a satori."
> Miko: What if they burned Yoshika's talisman instead of Yoshika herself?

>Youmu: "I don't think so," says Koishi. "It's not about the hearing so much as feeling. And even if I didn't, they're still there..."
>Miko: That...might have an effect, but it may be more strongly linked to Yoshika than to Seiga at this point, you aren't sure.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Miko: If we removed the talisman, could we stick it back on to restore Yoshika to her current state?
> Miko: Could we write our own talismans for Yoshika? Or are we not necromantic enough for that?

[Hello Purvis]

> Miko: If we removed the talisman, could we stick it back on to restore Yoshika to her current state?
> Miko: Could we write our own talismans for Yoshika? Or are we not necromantic enough for that?

>Miko: Yes, you can remove the Talisman and then restore it. You do not have the skills to make your own talisman, your focus has shied away from such things.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Youmu: "What do you mean that 'they are still there'?"
> Miko: "You are most welcome, Yoshika. Please tell me, though; do you have anything that belongs to Seiga in your possession?"

[Hello Purvis]

> Youmu: "What do you mean that 'they are still there'?"
> Miko: "You are most welcome, Yoshika. Please tell me, though; do you have anything that belongs to Seiga in your possession?"

>Youmu: "They're still there. Watching me..." says Koishi. "And I can read their souls."
>Miko: "Uhhhhhhhhh..." says Yoshika. "She made me some onigiri, but I ate it..."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Youmu: "Ah, I see what you mean. But if there was a chance that feeling could be dulled or even erased without outright removing it, would that not make the public perception of satori better if it succeeded?"
> Miko: How self-aware and/or sensitive is Yoshika of her talisman and what it does for her?
> Miko: Frown. "And nothing else?"

[Hello Purvis]

> Youmu: "Ah, I see what you mean. But if there was a chance that feeling could be dulled or even erased without outright removing it, would that not make the public perception of satori better if it succeeded?"
> Miko: How self-aware and/or sensitive is Yoshika of her talisman and what it does for her?
> Miko: Frown. "And nothing else?"

>Youmu: Koishi frowns. "Maybe...I think they'd still be suspicious for a very long time, though."
>Miko: You don't think Yoshika really knows what it is, or gives it much thought. "Weell," she says, "I guess she gave me moooooost of the things I have! But, now they're myyyyyyyyy things because I use 'em and she doesn't waaaaaaaant them. I think?"

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Youmu: Wait, Koishi actually stopped smiling for a moment?

[Hello Purvis]

> Youmu: Wait, Koishi actually stopped smiling for a moment?

>It was a thoughtful frown, but yes.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Youmu: Nod. "That may be the case, yes. But, for all that I am not an expert on the subject, I think it would be the preferable course of action in the long run. Ah, also, if I may divert from that subject for a moment, at the risk of offending, I think this is the first time I have seen you not smiling."
> Miko: "I see. That is most unfortunate." Look back to the women at the table. "If I may ask your opinion, ladies, do you suppose, for a magician's purposes, that a jiangshi's talisman would belong to the jiangshi? Or would it belong to the master?"

[Hello Purvis]

> Youmu: Nod. "That may be the case, yes. But, for all that I am not an expert on the subject, I think it would be the preferable course of action in the long run. Ah, also, if I may divert from that subject for a moment, at the risk of offending, I think this is the first time I have seen you not smiling."
> Miko: "I see. That is most unfortunate." Look back to the women at the table. "If I may ask your opinion, ladies, do you suppose, for a magician's purposes, that a jiangshi's talisman would belong to the jiangshi? Or would it belong to the master?"

>Youmu:  Koishi seems to freeze up as you mention that. Parsee and Utsuho both look at her curiously.
>Miko: "Oh, that is a puzzle!" says Yuyuko.
>Miko: Yukari frowns. "Mmm. It is what makes a jiangshi a jiangshi, is it not? I would think it would belong to her."
>Miko: "Ah, but does a combination belong to the lock or the owner?" Yuyuko says.
>Miko: "Does the sword or the swordsman slay?" Yukari asks.
>Miko: "Oh, but does the motion belong to the child or the swing?" says Yuyuko.
>Miko: Yukari looks over toward you and smiles. "I believe it may be worth a shot."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Youmu: "...I hope I have not said something inappropriate..."
> Miko: Smile in return and nod. "Very good. Thank you for your advice."
> Miko: Obtain another cherry and feed it to Yoshika. "Here you are, dear. One last treat before we part ways."

[Hello Purvis]

> Youmu: "...I hope I have not said something inappropriate..."
> Miko: Smile in return and nod. "Very good. Thank you for your advice."
> Miko: Obtain another cherry and feed it to Yoshika. "Here you are, dear. One last treat before we part ways."

>Youmu: "I don't...know?" says Utsuho.
>Miko: "It's okaaaay, Prince!" says Yoshika, through another cherry. "You can stay here aaaaaand be my buddy!"

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Youmu: Is Koishi still frowning, or has the smile returned?
> Youmu: Look to Koishi. "...Or, perhaps, is this a sign that things are improving?"
> Miko: Smile. "Believe me, I would dearly love to. But Seiga is in grave danger, and I must do what I can to save her."

[Hello Purvis]

> Youmu: Is Koishi still frowning, or has the smile returned?
> Youmu: Look to Koishi. "...Or, perhaps, is this a sign that things are improving?"
> Miko: Smile. "Believe me, I would dearly love to. But Seiga is in grave danger, and I must do what I can to save her."

>Youmu: Her smile returned once she answered that question.  She doesn't answer. Rather, she looks like a deer holding still and hoping it hasn't been seen.
>Miko: "You go saaaaave master, Prince!" says Yoshika.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Youmu: Give an uncertain look. "...Koishi, are you all right?"
> Miko: Nod. "I will do this, I promise you. I hope to see you again soon. Until then, know that you performed your duty admirably, and that you have nothing to be ashamed of."
> Miko: Swiftly snatch the talisman off Yoshika's forehead.

[Hello Purvis]

> Youmu: Give an uncertain look. "...Koishi, are you all right?"
> Miko: Nod. "I will do this, I promise you. I hope to see you again soon. Until then, know that you performed your duty admirably, and that you have nothing to be ashamed of."
> Miko: Swiftly snatch the talisman off Yoshika's forehead.

>Youmu: "Yes, yes, I'm fine!" says Koishi.
>Miko: "That's so niiiice, Prince," says Yoshika. Then you pull her talisman away and she just stops, taking on a blank expression.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Youmu: Start a little bit. "Ah, okay. Apologies, I did not mean to push so hard."
> Miko: "I'm sorry, Yoshika."
> Miko: Now that Yoshika isn't going anywhere any time soon, turn properly to the women at the table. "Now then. If I may, do you have any recommendations for anyone qualified to use this to locate Seiga? Aside from the black-white, I am aware of the vampire's librarian, and a puppeteer, though I have not yet witnessed either of them in action."