Sword Quest V - A Z-Machine Adventure

[Hello Purvis]

> 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."

>Youmu: "Don't worry about it," says Koishi.
>Miko: You apologize to the jiangshi. She doesn't really response, staring ahead blankly and tilting her head a bit. "I would recommend the librarian." says Yukari.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Youmu: Nod. "Still, it seems this is an uncommon occurrence."
> Miko: "That is good to hear. I suspect I will have the easiest time with her." Glance in the direction that Youmu went in. "In that case, I believe it is time I chased Miss Konpaku down and found out what other business she has with me, so that I may waste as little time as possible in bringing Seiga to her senses."

[Hello Purvis]

> Youmu: Nod. "Still, it seems this is an uncommon occurrence."
> Miko: "That is good to hear. I suspect I will have the easiest time with her." Glance in the direction that Youmu went in. "In that case, I believe it is time I chased Miss Konpaku down and found out what other business she has with me, so that I may waste as little time as possible in bringing Seiga to her senses."

>Youmu: Koishi doesn't say anything. Parsee nods in agreement.
>Miko: "Do have a good time!" Yuyuko says.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Youmu: "Anyway, I will go and fetch the Taoist hermit, so we may at least look into how her earmuffs work. It seems the worst that will happen is that the idea won't work, in which case we are still no worse off than before."
> Miko: "I will do my best to help reclaim what has been stolen from you. Ah, but I am afraid I am not aware of where this Chrysanthemum Garden is."

[Hello Purvis]

> Youmu: "Anyway, I will go and fetch the Taoist hermit, so we may at least look into how her earmuffs work. It seems the worst that will happen is that the idea won't work, in which case we are still no worse off than before."
> Miko: "I will do my best to help reclaim what has been stolen from you. Ah, but I am afraid I am not aware of where this Chrysanthemum Garden is."

>Youmu: "We'll probably be here," says Parsee.
>Miko: "Oh my my," says Yuyuko, as she she stands up and floats toward the nearest door. "You had best follow me."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Youmu: Nod. "I shan't be long."
> Youmu: Make our way back toward the Saigyou Ayakashi.
> Miko: "Thank you."
> Miko" Follow that ghost!

[Hello Purvis]

> Youmu: Nod. "I shan't be long."
> Youmu: Make our way back toward the Saigyou Ayakashi.
> Miko: "Thank you."
> Miko" Follow that ghost!

>Youmu: You make your way back toward the Saigyou Ayakashi.
>Miko: You follow that ghost!
>The two of you soon meet in a random hall. "Ah, convenient," says Yuyuko. "You can show her the way to the Chrysanthemum Garden. I mustn't leave Yukari alone for too long!"

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Youmu: Nod. "Understood, Yuyuko-sama." Turn to Miko. "I was just coming for you, actually. Please, follow me."
> Miko: "As I you. I hope this will not take too long, however, as I am otherwise ready to pursue Seiga, and I fear time is of the essence in that regard."
> Youmu: "I believe we can make it brief, and revisit it later if need be."
> Miko: Nod. "Very well."
> Both: Head to the Chrysanthemum Garden, Youmu leading Miko on the way.

[Hello Purvis]

> Youmu: Nod. "Understood, Yuyuko-sama." Turn to Miko. "I was just coming for you, actually. Please, follow me."
> Miko: "As I you. I hope this will not take too long, however, as I am otherwise ready to pursue Seiga, and I fear time is of the essence in that regard."
> Youmu: "I believe we can make it brief, and revisit it later if need be."
> Miko: Nod. "Very well."
> Both: Head to the Chrysanthemum Garden, Youmu leading Miko on the way.

>The two of you return to the Chrysanthemum Garden.
>Miko: You note the flowers are rather muted, compared to what you're used to in your Imperial days, but are quite nicely arranged.
>Youmu: You are rather unhappy to find that Utsuho, Parsee, and Koishi are gone.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Youmu: Are there any ghosts nearby?

[Hello Purvis]

> Youmu: Are there any ghosts nearby?

>Youmu: There are quite a few ghosts. In fact, there is one approaching you now, a slight, square-jawed woman in robes. "Excuse me, miss Konpaku?"

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Youmu: "Yes?"
> Miko: Who is Youmu talking to?

[Hello Purvis]

> Youmu: "Yes?"
> Miko: Who is Youmu talking to?

>Youmu: "Those live ones ran off," says the ghost. "It seems the one in yellow got skittish and bolted right after you left. The blonde one shouted that someone should tell you about that, so I figured I ought to."
>Miko: Youmu appears to have addressed one of the ghosts. It is kind of a featureless white blob, like all the other ghosts.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Youmu: Grit teeth. "Where did they go?"

[Hello Purvis]

> Youmu: Grit teeth. "Where did they go?"

>Youmu: "That way," says the ghost, gesturing toward the eastern exit.  There is a lot of Hakugyokurou that way.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Youmu: Groan internally.
> Youmu: Nod. "Thank you very much." Look to Miko. "Sorry, no time to lose. Please follow me!"
> Youmu: Take off to the east.
> Miko: "What? Ah, wait!" Follow!

[Hello Purvis]

> Youmu: Groan internally.
> Youmu: Nod. "Thank you very much." Look to Miko. "Sorry, no time to lose. Please follow me!"
> Youmu: Take off to the east.
> Miko: "What? Ah, wait!" Follow!

>Youmu: You groan in your soul, then urge Miko to follow you.
>Miko: You follow Youmu.
>You both run through the eastern exit and into the palace itself.  The halls are much like any other.
>Youmu: It doesn't take you you long to find a four-way intersection. Looking in every direction, you see some ghosts passing through, and no sign of anyone corporeal.
>Miko: Youmu quickly leaves you in the dust, there's no way you can keep up with her. You can still see her just ahead, at an intersection.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Youmu: "Pardon! Did anyone see living ones come through here recently?"
> Miko: If Youmu has stopped, that will at least give us the chance to catch up. Take it!

[Hello Purvis]

> Youmu: "Pardon! Did anyone see living ones come through here recently?"
> Miko: If Youmu has stopped, that will at least give us the chance to catch up. Take it!

>Youmu: You call out to the ghosts. A couple of them pay you no mind, or just shrug in response. "There was a blonde youkai that ran past me, panting some very nasty things," says one of the ghosts, in a southern corridor. "I haven't seen any other people like that, though."
>Miko: You catch up to Youmu.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Youmu: "Thank you!"
> Miko: "Stop!" Grab Youmu's nearest hand.
> Youmu: "Ack!" Jump a bit and turn to look at our assailant.
> Miko: "If you are going to request I follow you, you cannot run off at a pace I cannot possibly maintain."
> Youmu: Could we possibly physically drag Miko along with us?

[Hello Purvis]

> Youmu: "Thank you!"
> Miko: "Stop!" Grab Youmu's nearest hand.
> Youmu: "Ack!" Jump a bit and turn to look at our assailant.
> Miko: "If you are going to request I follow you, you cannot run off at a pace I cannot possibly maintain."
> Youmu: Could we possibly physically drag Miko along with us?

>Youmu: Unlikely. You are a pretty strong person for a human, but Miko is a full-grown human being(?). You aren't going to drag her very effectively. And you don't think she would enjoy it if you could.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Youmu: "Oh, um, sorry. I'll try to match your speed. This way!"
> Youmu: Make our way down the southern corridor at a tad-slower pace, glancing back every so often (when we're confident we won't run face-first into something) to keep track of Miko and adjust our pace accordingly to allow her to keep up.
> Miko: Inwardly sigh, then keep following as fast as we can.

[Hello Purvis]

> Youmu: "Oh, um, sorry. I'll try to match your speed. This way!"
> Youmu: Make our way down the southern corridor at a tad-slower pace, glancing back every so often (when we're confident we won't run face-first into something) to keep track of Miko and adjust our pace accordingly to allow her to keep up.
> Miko: Inwardly sigh, then keep following as fast as we can.

>The two of you follow. the southern corridor.
>Youmu: It's difficult not to leave Miko behind, but you do your best.
>Miko: You are starting to feel a tad winded. Your endurance is not to be underestimated, but you are no runner. Your talents lie elsewhere.
>You pass by several open rooms, and there is another intersection ahead.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Miko: Could we fly instead, to alleviate the pressure a bit?

[Hello Purvis]

> Miko: Could we fly instead, to alleviate the pressure a bit?

>Miko: You could, but you aren't wholly sure it will suffice.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Miko: Let's at least make it to the next intersection before we catch our breath.
> Both: Get to the next intersection and have a look around.

[Hello Purvis]

> Miko: Let's at least make it to the next intersection before we catch our breath.
> Both: Get to the next intersection and have a look around.

>You both rush to the intersection. This one, too, is a four-way. Looking around, you see no signs of a living person, just a few ghosts milling about.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Youmu: "Pardon! Did anyone see living ones come through here recently?"
> Miko: Catch our breath. We can do this in a slightly exaggerated fashion so that Youmu notices, but not so much that we look weak or out of shape.

[Hello Purvis]

> Youmu: "Pardon! Did anyone see living ones come through here recently?"
> Miko: Catch our breath. We can do this in a slightly exaggerated fashion so that Youmu notices, but not so much that we look weak or out of shape.

>Youmu: You call out to the ghosts. None of them answer. One shrugs.
>Miko: You catch your breath, you're sure it's noticeable without being humiliating.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Youmu: Look around at the hallways. Do any of them look notably different than any of the others?