Sword Quest VI - A Z-Machine Adventure

[Hello Purvis]

> Youmu: "It is not the most useful information, but at least we can narrow our search."
> Miko: "Indeed. I do even have one possible theory as to who Seiga is with, and thus where she may be hiding. The information we have is that Seiga has stolen the life force of a tree, a life force that is a tremendous amount of power. She is also currently far away from the Scarlet Devil Mansion, and she asked her mystery companion how 'it' feels. It also stands to reason that, if Seiga is hiding, she would not want to hide somewhere where she could be easily discovered. Now, again, this is only a theory, but it is possible that Seiga is sharing the power of the Saigyou Ayakashi's life force with her mystery companion, and was asking this companion how that power felt. I can think of one person that lives far away from the Scarlet Devil Mansion, in a place where random Gensokyo citizens are extremely unlikely to wander upon them intentionally or by accident, and who would be interested in obtaining a great power of botanical origin."

>"...Not again," Reimu mutters.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Youmu: Go a little whiter than usual. "...Surely not?"
> Miko: "I cannot be certain this is the case. Truthfully, I am not even certain the fact that the life force comes from a tree would make a difference in how well it would be received. But...it seems more likely than other possibilities."
> Youmu: How aware are we of Yuuka's anti-trespassing policies?
> Youmu: How aware are we of any connection between Yuuka and Medicine?

[Hello Purvis]

> Youmu: Go a little whiter than usual. "...Surely not?"
> Miko: "I cannot be certain this is the case. Truthfully, I am not even certain the fact that the life force comes from a tree would make a difference in how well it would be received. But...it seems more likely than other possibilities."
> Youmu: How aware are we of Yuuka's anti-trespassing policies?
> Youmu: How aware are we of any connection between Yuuka and Medicine?

>Youmu: Yuuka does not like uninvited guests at all.  Nor are you really sure how Yuuka and Medicine are connected, but you expect they have to at least know each other.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Youmu: "...Reimu, is there anyone whose presence she tolerates?"

[Hello Purvis]

> Youmu: "...Reimu, is there anyone whose presence she tolerates?"

>"Well, there's that goon squad she has," says Reimu. "Aside from that...who knows?"

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Youmu: Which 'good squad' is this?

[Hello Purvis]

> Youmu: Which 'good squad' is this?

>Youmu: You have no idea...

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Youmu: Look a little bit puzzled. "Um...which 'goon squad' is this?"

[Hello Purvis]

> Youmu: Look a little bit puzzled. "Um...which 'goon squad' is this?"

>"You go far enough into her field, you'll find her mansion," says Reimu. "She's got a few friends or lackeys or whatever living there. A kind of butler woman, some dippy vampire, and an squawky faerie who's no joke. I don't hear about 'em getting out much, so it makes sense you wouldn't have heard of them."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Youmu: Did we know about this mansion?
> Youmu: "Ah, I see. So there are no known outsiders that we could ask for help."
> Miko: "Hmm? Surely you could ask Miss Yakumo, if nothing else."
> Youmu: Shake head. "Yukari-sama and Yuuka are not on the best of terms. Yuuka is very territorial; I was hoping there was someone that she would not immediately consider a trespasser who could at least check to see if anything is amiss."
> Miko: "Hrm. That is unfortunate."

[Hello Purvis]

> Youmu: Did we know about this mansion?
> Youmu: "Ah, I see. So there are no known outsiders that we could ask for help."
> Miko: "Hmm? Surely you could ask Miss Yakumo, if nothing else."
> Youmu: Shake head. "Yukari-sama and Yuuka are not on the best of terms. Yuuka is very territorial; I was hoping there was someone that she would not immediately consider a trespasser who could at least check to see if anything is amiss."
> Miko: "Hrm. That is unfortunate."

>Youmu: You did not.
>"There's no easy way with that," says Reimu. "Either you be forthright and hope she's in a good mood, or you sneak in and really hope she doesn't find you."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Miko: "And if she is indeed harboring Seiga in return for greater power, the likelihood of success of that first option drops dramatically."
> Youmu: Frown. "And we would then have to deal with both of them, possibly enhanced by the Saigyou Ayakashi."
> Miko: "Indeed. Though I do hope I can at least talk Seiga down from a violent confrontation."
> Miko: Are we aware of the tengu penchant for journalism?

[Hello Purvis]

> Miko: "And if she is indeed harboring Seiga in return for greater power, the likelihood of success of that first option drops dramatically."
> Youmu: Frown. "And we would then have to deal with both of them, possibly enhanced by the Saigyou Ayakashi."
> Miko: "Indeed. Though I do hope I can at least talk Seiga down from a violent confrontation."
> Miko: Are we aware of the tengu penchant for journalism?

>Miko: You know some stories to the effect.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Miko: How problematic were the tengu back in our day?

> Miko: "Anyway, given the uncertainty and danger surrounding this theory, perhaps it would be best if we tried to gather more information before we make our next move."
> Youmu: "What other leads do we have, though?"
> Miko: "Well, if nothing else, it would not be a bad idea to ask your mistress and Miss Yakumo their opinions on our theory, particularly as it pertains to whether or not a flower youkai would be particularly compatible with life force from a tree. We can also investigate other, less hostile areas, to see if Seiga has been spotted there recently. She may not be in Higan, as Reimu pointed out, but she may have traveled by the Sanzu River on the Gensokyo side. Seiga may believe not many people would think to search for a hermit in a shinigami's domain."
> Youmu: "...Maybe. What about you, though? Surely you're not volunteering for going there."
> Miko: Shake head. "I have a delivery to make to the Moriya Shrine, as part of the agreement made to obtain Patchouli's services. I can investigate Youkai Mountain while I am there."

[Hello Purvis]

> Miko: How problematic were the tengu back in our day?

> Miko: "Anyway, given the uncertainty and danger surrounding this theory, perhaps it would be best if we tried to gather more information before we make our next move."
> Youmu: "What other leads do we have, though?"
> Miko: "Well, if nothing else, it would not be a bad idea to ask your mistress and Miss Yakumo their opinions on our theory, particularly as it pertains to whether or not a flower youkai would be particularly compatible with life force from a tree. We can also investigate other, less hostile areas, to see if Seiga has been spotted there recently. She may not be in Higan, as Reimu pointed out, but she may have traveled by the Sanzu River on the Gensokyo side. Seiga may believe not many people would think to search for a hermit in a shinigami's domain."
> Youmu: "...Maybe. What about you, though? Surely you're not volunteering for going there."
> Miko: Shake head. "I have a delivery to make to the Moriya Shrine, as part of the agreement made to obtain Patchouli's services. I can investigate Youkai Mountain while I am there."

>Miko: You seldom heard of them. They were notably reclusive. Individuals did cause trouble, though.
>"My suggestion would be to not backtrack to the same place all the time without a good reason," says Reimu. "If you keep wasting time doing that, you'll never stop anything. Better to follow your heart until you know there's a good reason to do it."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Youmu: Has that been our experience as well?

[Hello Purvis]

> Youmu: Has that been our experience as well?

>The few times you've gone out to solve incidents, you tended just to either plow ahead, or follow Yuyuko.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Youmu: Under what conditions were we not supposed to open the oni's box?
> Youmu: Are we presently under a roof?

> Youmu: "That...seems to have worked for me in the past, now that I think about it."
> Miko: "I see. I will defer to the professionals on that matter, then. Though, Reimu, I assume you will still want me to return so my companions do not intrude upon your hospitality for too long."

[Hello Purvis]

> Youmu: Under what conditions were we not supposed to open the oni's box?
> Youmu: Are we presently under a roof?

> Youmu: "That...seems to have worked for me in the past, now that I think about it."
> Miko: "I see. I will defer to the professionals on that matter, then. Though, Reimu, I assume you will still want me to return so my companions do not intrude upon your hospitality for too long."

>Youmu: She told you not to open it in the rain. You are not under a roof.
>Reimu nods. "Yeah, that'd be nice."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Youmu: Is it presently raining?
> Youmu: Does the shrine porch offer a roof?

[Hello Purvis]

> Youmu: Is it presently raining?
> Youmu: Does the shrine porch offer a roof?

>It has not been raining since you left the Underground. There is a roof over the porch.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Youmu: Did we think to ask the rabbits if they had seen Seiga (or someone matching her description)?

> Miko: "Then perhaps we should make one last plan to reunite here, at least. If nothing else, I assume you do not wish to risk having to confront Seiga and Yuuka on your own, and I do not wish to bring my companions there without extra assistance. The poor dears have dealt with enough today already."
> Youmu: Raise an eyebrow. "What did they get into now?"
> Miko: "They ran afoul of an oni most rude while searching for my sword's thief underground. Their victory was not without cost."
> Youmu: "I see. Ah, that reminds me. I received something from the oni swordswoman, but I have yet to actually inspect it properly. I suppose now is as good a time as any."
> Youmu: Take out the box and open it.

[Hello Purvis]

> Youmu: Did we think to ask the rabbits if they had seen Seiga (or someone matching her description)?

> Miko: "Then perhaps we should make one last plan to reunite here, at least. If nothing else, I assume you do not wish to risk having to confront Seiga and Yuuka on your own, and I do not wish to bring my companions there without extra assistance. The poor dears have dealt with enough today already."
> Youmu: Raise an eyebrow. "What did they get into now?"
> Miko: "They ran afoul of an oni most rude while searching for my sword's thief underground. Their victory was not without cost."
> Youmu: "I see. Ah, that reminds me. I received something from the oni swordswoman, but I have yet to actually inspect it properly. I suppose now is as good a time as any."
> Youmu: Take out the box and open it.

>Youmu: You did not.
>Youmu: You open the box to reveal an aged scroll. You also noted there is something else rattling around inside, though you cannot see it.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Youmu: Remove the scroll from the box and check for what is rattling.

[Hello Purvis]

> Youmu: Remove the scroll from the box and check for what is rattling.

>You lift out the scroll, and can see a few small gemstones in the box, three blue ones and three red ones. Rubies and sapphires?
>You obtain: Aged Scroll x1
>You obtain: Red Jewel x3
>You obtain: Blue Jewel x3

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Youmu: !!!?!?!?
> Youmu: "Wow..."
> Miko: "Hmm?"
> Miko: Glance into the box, if we can.

[Hello Purvis]

> Youmu: !!!?!?!?
> Youmu: "Wow..."
> Miko: "Hmm?"
> Miko: Glance into the box, if we can.

>Miko: Looking in the box, you can confirm those are carnelians and sapphires.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Miko: How much of a jeweler are we?
> Miko: "Ah, carnelians and sapphires. Quite a generous gift. What does the scroll say?"
> Youmu: What's our jewelry knowledge?
> Youmu: What's a carnelian?
> Youmu: Nod absently and open the scroll, closing the box and putting it away if we need to.

[Hello Purvis]

> Miko: How much of a jeweler are we?
> Miko: "Ah, carnelians and sapphires. Quite a generous gift. What does the scroll say?"
> Youmu: What's our jewelry knowledge?
> Youmu: What's a carnelian?
> Youmu: Nod absently and open the scroll, closing the box and putting it away if we need to.

>Miko: You have some basic familiarity with them, precious stones were not an infrequent subject of court interest.
>Youmu: Not much. You like the ones that are pretty. Apparently one of those things is a carnelian.
>Youmu: Opening the scroll, you quickly see that it depicts several swords stances; some in mid strike, with terse notations here and there. To most people, this would be a useless curiosity. You are not most people, and can recognize it as a scroll depicting a particular technique. The notation assumes one already has a high degree of familiarity with swordsmanship, and is practically impenetrable otherwise.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Miko: Can we read the scroll from where we are?