Sword Quest X - A Z-Machine Adventure

[Hello Purvis]

> Youmu: "I hope Satori joins us in the end. Maybe she'll have an idea."
> Miko: "But of course. Unusual magic or no, shopkeepers do not tend to be warriors. Making so many enemies in a land such as this is a recipe for destruction if one cannot hold their own."

>Youmu: "Maybe," says Parsee. "She can be pretty smart, but getting her out of there is really hard."
>Miko: "He had a number of tricks," says Byakuren, "but yes. Particularly now."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Youmu: Nod. "Yes, Rin, I think, explained the situation to me. When I left, though, it was still up in the air."
> Miko: "I hope the time since has not been too difficult on all involved?"

[Hello Purvis]

> Youmu: Nod. "Yes, Rin, I think, explained the situation to me. When I left, though, it was still up in the air."
> Miko: "I hope the time since has not been too difficult on all involved?"

>Youmu: Utsuho nods.
>Youmu: "I'll tell you what the problem is," says Parsee. "It's that we have so many people out running around looking for her, and all these strangers she's supposed to see and she hates that. We're never going to chase her out like that."
>Miko: "It's been challenging," says Byakuren. "He...did not take well to his defeat, or being deprived of his merchandise, and become very despondent. Frankly, we were afraid he would attempt to take his own life. It took some months of care before he began to really seem to take joy in much of anything, or appreciate any kind of companionship. Since then, it seems he is slowly getting better, but there is the sense that he is really only just holding together. Eventually, we would like to let him return to a normal life, but it's hard to tell how long that will be."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Youmu: "I suppose that may be true. I wonder what we could do differently, then?"
> Miko: "That sounds...quite difficult. He was truly that far gone?"

[Hello Purvis]

> Youmu: "I suppose that may be true. I wonder what we could do differently, then?"
> Miko: "That sounds...quite difficult. He was truly that far gone?"

>Youmu: "I dunno," says Parsee. "Less strangers, I guess. But we kinda need 'em to hunt her down."
>Miko: "He was...quite insane when we got him," says Byakuren. "He hadn't been taking care of himself at all. He's much better now, but...well, he's definitely lost a spark, so to speak."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Youmu: Frown. "That is unfortunate."
> Miko: "I suppose such is a necessary evil."

[Hello Purvis]

> Youmu: Frown. "That is unfortunate."
> Miko: "I suppose such is a necessary evil."

>Youmu: "Maybe just get rid of the strangers we don't need?" says Utsuho. "Do you think she even thinks of the ghosts as people? It's...kind of hard, honestly."
>Miko: "I'm not quite sure what to do about it," says Byakuren. "I don't think he's likely to try anything again, I'm not sure if he actually can or not. But, I'm not satisfied that we can simply turn him away."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Youmu: "I imagine Yuyuko would not use more ghosts for such a task than is necessary. She is quite good about understanding this sort of thing."
> Miko: "Understandable. It may be painful in the short term, but it is for the best for both himself and this land in the long term."

[Hello Purvis]

> Youmu: "I imagine Yuyuko would not use more ghosts for such a task than is necessary. She is quite good about understanding this sort of thing."
> Miko: "Understandable. It may be painful in the short term, but it is for the best for both himself and this land in the long term."

>Youmu: "She did seem to have a feel for Koishi..." says Utsuho.
>Miko: "I don't know..." says Byakuren. "I'm not certain if he can...ah...withstand being on his own right now."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Youmu: Nod. "Yuyuko-sama is exceedingly observant, and a very sharp thinker. If there is anyone that can come up with a proper plan for finding Koishi, it is her."
> Miko: "Oh, ah, no, I agree with you. I was referring to the act of continuing to care for him. If his current state is one where he cannot function autonomously and he still poses some degree of threat to the land, it is best for him to be treated until both of those issues are resolved."

[Hello Purvis]

> Youmu: Nod. "Yuyuko-sama is exceedingly observant, and a very sharp thinker. If there is anyone that can come up with a proper plan for finding Koishi, it is her."
> Miko: "Oh, ah, no, I agree with you. I was referring to the act of continuing to care for him. If his current state is one where he cannot function autonomously and he still poses some degree of threat to the land, it is best for him to be treated until both of those issues are resolved."

>Youmu: "Guess that's what we have to go with, then," says Parsee.
>Miko: "Ah, my apologies," says Byakuren. "I am certain, if we could help him reclaim that spark and pull through his current miasma, we could let him go."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Youmu: "Is there anything you would like to do in the meantime, then?"
> Miko: "Is there anything else he takes interest in, that you could use to help bring him back to where he is supposed to be?"

[Hello Purvis]

> Youmu: "Is there anything you would like to do in the meantime, then?"
> Miko: "Is there anything else he takes interest in, that you could use to help bring him back to where he is supposed to be?"

>Youmu: "What're you offering?" says Parsee.
>Miko: "He does have a few friends that visit him, which seems to help for a time," says Byakuren. "And he seems to enjoy books as much as ever. We try to provide these as best we can."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Youmu: Look to Utsuho specifically. "There is actually something I need to ask you. Did I tell you two about Yuyuko-sama's upcoming play earlier?"
> Miko: "Books, hmm? I wonder if you could arrange something with the vampire manor and their library."

[Hello Purvis]

> Youmu: Look to Utsuho specifically. "There is actually something I need to ask you. Did I tell you two about Yuyuko-sama's upcoming play earlier?"
> Miko: "Books, hmm? I wonder if you could arrange something with the vampire manor and their library."

>Youmu: "I think you mentioned something like that," says Utsuho. "I don't remember..."
>Youmu: "She did," says Parsee. "You said you'd be willing to help out if we got all this dealt with."
>Youmu: "Oh. That sounds like something I'd say," says Utsuho.
>Miko: "Hm. Perhaps," says Byakuren. "We had an arrangement with a local bookseller, but perhaps there may be something to be said for a wider range? Though...hm, a lot of Miss Knowledge's books are quite dangerous."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Youmu: Nod. "I was hoping you would be willing to be the fifth player."
> Miko: "Perhaps, though with the sheer volume of books in that library, it seems as though you would have a very wide selection even if all of the dangerous ones were set aside."

[Hello Purvis]

> Youmu: Nod. "I was hoping you would be willing to be the fifth player."
> Miko: "Perhaps, though with the sheer volume of books in that library, it seems as though you would have a very wide selection even if all of the dangerous ones were set aside."

>Youmu: "Sure," says Utsuho. "I'll do my best!"
>Miko: "I imagine it comes down to how many are dangerous," says Byakuren with a chuckle. "Miss Knowledge has more than you might imagine."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Youmu: Smile. "Excellent. Thank you. That gives us a full cast, then."
> Miko: Chuckle. "Oh, I believe it, after meeting her."

[Hello Purvis]

> Youmu: Smile. "Excellent. Thank you. That gives us a full cast, then."
> Miko: Chuckle. "Oh, I believe it, after meeting her."

>Youmu: "No problem," says Utsuho. "Sounds like fun!"
>Youmu: "I get a free ticket, right?" says Parsee.
>Miko: "She's an interesting person, yes," says Byakuren.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Youmu: "I'm not sure. I've not yet been tasked with ticket sales, so I've no idea how Yuyuko-sama wishes to handle that."
> Miko: "She does, at least, seem the type willing to make arrangements, provided proper compensation."

[Hello Purvis]

> Youmu: "I'm not sure. I've not yet been tasked with ticket sales, so I've no idea how Yuyuko-sama wishes to handle that."
> Miko: "She does, at least, seem the type willing to make arrangements, provided proper compensation."

>Youmu: "I better," Parsee says, "I got my Okuu in there to see."
>Miko: Byakuren chuckles. "She's very helpful, but she doesn't want people to think that she is because it interferes with the reputation she wants to cultivate. However, she is quick to take advantage of a situation as well."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Youmu: Is Kotohime in the room with us?
> Youmu: "We shall see, I suppose. Regardless, if you would like to meet your fellow players, they are all currently scattered about the Netherworld, though I at least know where they are."
> Miko: "Mmm. You may be able to lessen the impact by convincing her superior to make it worth their household's time to help out. It is one thing to be asked by an outside party, it is quite another to be given an order."

[Hello Purvis]

> Youmu: Is Kotohime in the room with us?
> Youmu: "We shall see, I suppose. Regardless, if you would like to meet your fellow players, they are all currently scattered about the Netherworld, though I at least know where they are."
> Miko: "Mmm. You may be able to lessen the impact by convincing her superior to make it worth their household's time to help out. It is one thing to be asked by an outside party, it is quite another to be given an order."

>Youmu: Kotohime is here. She seems to have taken especial interest in an end table.
>Youmu: "Sure!" says Utsuho.
>Miko: "That is true," says Byakuren. "But, Miss Scarlet can be difficult to meet with."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Youmu: Gesture to Kotohime. "Very well. This over here is a Kotohime, a princess from the moon that currently operates as a constable for the human village."
> Miko: "I suppose her status, as well as her gate guard, would pose an obstacle."

[Hello Purvis]

> Youmu: Gesture to Kotohime. "Very well. This over here is a Kotohime, a princess from the moon that currently operates as a constable for the human village."
> Miko: "I suppose her status, as well as her gate guard, would pose an obstacle."

>Youmu: Kotohime looks up. "Ah, hello you two."
>Youmu: "I didn't think they had any police," says Utsuho.
>Youmu: "Well, as long as the criminals don't know, either," says Kotohime, smirking.
>Miko: Byakuren nods. "She can be quite selective about her company, yes."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Youmu: "As for the others, Reimu is currently tending to an unwell human, and I imagine she does not wish to be bothered at present. I can bring you to meet the other two now, however, if you like."
> Miko: Tap chin in thought. "Mmm...I may be able to assist with this issue, if you are sufficiently interested in procuring Patchouli's help. I cannot guarantee anything, however."

[Mr. Sacchi]

As pleasant as the conversation has turned out to be Kilga, are you sure Miko would just straight up offer to help Byakuren?

[Kilgamayan]

It's certainly not going to be for free, if that's what you're worried about. I don't think Miko is above making deals with people she dislikes, though. That's part of being a politician.

[Hello Purvis]

> Youmu: "As for the others, Reimu is currently tending to an unwell human, and I imagine she does not wish to be bothered at present. I can bring you to meet the other two now, however, if you like."
> Miko: Tap chin in thought. "Mmm...I may be able to assist with this issue, if you are sufficiently interested in procuring Patchouli's help. I cannot guarantee anything, however."

>Youmu: "Sure, why not?" says Utsuho.
>Miko: "Ah, that is very generous, but it isn't necessary," says Byakuren. "Miss Knowledge and I attend a social circle together regularly."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Youmu: Nod. "Very well. Let us tell Yuyuko-sama what we are doing, and then I will take you there."
> Miko: "Ah, I see. That should work just fine as well."