Sword Quest XI - A Z-Machine Adventure

[Hello Purvis]

> Did Hina have anything useful to say about that?

>Not directly, at least.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "I have learned the key was originally found in this area of the forest, southwest of the kappa village. Beyond that, the one whom identified the doom that is apparently upon it claims it must have been some 'quite momentous'. While this does not precisely tell us for what we are looking, it does at least seem likely that what we are seeking is something out of the ordinary for a forest, and possibly quite large."

[Hello Purvis]

> "I have learned the key was originally found in this area of the forest, southwest of the kappa village. Beyond that, the one whom identified the doom that is apparently upon it claims it must have been some 'quite momentous'. While this does not precisely tell us for what we are looking, it does at least seem likely that what we are seeking is something out of the ordinary for a forest, and possibly quite large."

>"So we hope," says Tojiko. "It could be a lost jewelry box or some such."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Nod slowly a couple of times and take on a slightly more empathetic tone, one more likely to convey that we are not being sarcastic or otherwise rude.
> "Yes...yes, it certainly could be."

[Hello Purvis]

> Nod slowly a couple of times and take on a slightly more empathetic tone, one more likely to convey that we are not being sarcastic or otherwise rude.
> "Yes...yes, it certainly could be."

>"Oh well, what direction are we going?" says Tojiko. "Are we just going to wander this way and that, or is there a more orderly procedure in mind?"

>_

[Kilgamayan]

i> "At the very least, it would probably be best to follow established paths. Thinking in terms of the key being found, It seems unlikely that someone would be wandering these woods aimlessly."

[Hello Purvis]

i> "At the very least, it would probably be best to follow established paths. Thinking in terms of the key being found, It seems unlikely that someone would be wandering these woods aimlessly."

>"I suppose this would be a start, Crown Prince," says Futo. "It is as much of a lead as any."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Nod.
> "Truly, I wish I could offer you two more than what I have. But...such is the difficulty of strange mysteries."

[Hello Purvis]

> Nod.
> "Truly, I wish I could offer you two more than what I have. But...such is the difficulty of strange mysteries."

>"Alas," says Futo. "We shall simply have to persevere."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Nod.
> "Thank you, my friends."
> Anything look suspicious in the forest so far?

[Hello Purvis]

> Nod.
> "Thank you, my friends."
> Anything look suspicious in the forest so far?

>Arguably, everything looks suspicious. Simply put, this part of the forest is not very pleasant. The trees are thick and gnarled, their bark dark-colored and rough-looking. You swear there's been a kind of miasma in the air every time you've passed through. The animals are quiet, only a distant bird chirps every now and again. However, you've seen nothing that looks like it would be a home to this key, unless one of the trees or rocks has a key hold you've overlooked.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Continue onward, then.

[Hello Purvis]

> Continue onward, then.

>You continue onward.
>ELSEWHERE IN THE WORLD: Youmu.
>You make your way toward the front gates of Hakugyokurou, when you hear Yuyuko's voice call out from behind. "There you are! Are you trying to slink away already?"

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Turn back around.
> "Apologies, Yuyuko-sama. I did not realize there was something else you required of me. What can I do for you?"

[Hello Purvis]

> Turn back around.
> "Apologies, Yuyuko-sama. I did not realize there was something else you required of me. What can I do for you?"

>"Well, don't you want to see your sick friend?" says Yuyuko, as she floats serenely in the corridor.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Perk up.
> "Oh, has someone found her?"

[Hello Purvis]

> Perk up.
> "Oh, has someone found her?"

>"Oh, we found her hours ago," says Yuyuko. "But she wasn't going to come out until the taoist left."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Blink.
> "...Oh."
> Frown.
> "And no one could have told me this?"

[Hello Purvis]

> Blink.
> "...Oh."
> Frown.
> "And no one could have told me this?"

>"Why, if I told you, you would have known!" says Yuyuko. "And then what's to stop that taoist from sussing it out whether you like it or not? Moreover, don't you think Koishi would have found out I lied about keeping it a secret rather quickly? That's no way to build trust, Youmu."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Can Miko read our mind? Or our desires, or whatever.

> "So you and everyone except me could be trusted with this information, even though there is no reason Miss Miko could not have figured it out from anyone else."

[Hello Purvis]

> Can Miko read our mind? Or our desires, or whatever.

> "So you and everyone except me could be trusted with this information, even though there is no reason Miss Miko could not have figured it out from anyone else."

>You think she can do the latter, but you aren't sure how comprehensive or accurate it is. She has certainly made mistakes regarding you the first time you met.
>"Why, I don't recall telling anyone else!" says Yuyuko, as she turns and gestures for you to follow. "What would make you think that? Rather, I'm just a tad surprised you think it would have taken me this long to find her."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Don't go anywhere just yet.
> "The ghosts I talked to were still searching for her. Why would I think she had been found?"

[Hello Purvis]

> Don't go anywhere just yet.
> "The ghosts I talked to were still searching for her. Why would I think she had been found?"

>"Well I certainly couldn't tell them, either," she says.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "And how was I supposed to know that when talking to them?"

[Hello Purvis]

> "And how was I supposed to know that when talking to them?"

>"Why, because I was in charge, of course," says Yuyuko.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Does this all sound reasonable?

[Hello Purvis]

> Does this all sound reasonable?

>Not at all.
>Then again, this is Yuyuko, and she has the capacity to surprise one deeply...
>You don't think she's being particularly hard on you, though. More playful chiding.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Frown some more, then give an exasperated grunt and follow.

[Hello Purvis]

> Frown some more, then give an exasperated grunt and follow.

>You follow Yuyuko, Kotohime giving you a look of concern, then following behind.
>Yuyuko leads you close to the Saigyou Ayakashi's garden, then up several floors and over toward a sitting room that you don't think receives too much use. It is empty at first, until Yuyuko calls out, "She's gone now, dearie, and Youmu is here with a friend whom I'm sure you can trust."
>"Good afternoon," Kotohime says.
>After a moment, you notice Koishi sitting in a chair by a window that overlooks the cherry tree garden. She has an easy smile, and nods to Yuyuko.  "Thanks!"

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Is it the same vacant smile as before?

> "My apologies for trying to introduce an unfamiliar person into your situation."