Sword Quest XIII - A Z-Machine Adventure

[Hello Purvis]

> How late in the evening is it at this point?

>Probably getting within an hour or two of midnight, at least.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Raise our hand in a fist, hesitate for a couple of seconds, and then knock very lightly.

[Hello Purvis]

> Raise our hand in a fist, hesitate for a couple of seconds, and then knock very lightly.

>You knock lightly on the door. In the silence, it sounds much louder than it is.
>You swear you can still hear it echoing, a minute or so later, when the door opens and a cloudy pink face peers out. His brow furrows dramatically as he sees you.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Keep our voice low, so as to not wake those sleeping inside.
> Gesture at the injuries on the front of our body.
> "Please forgive the lateness of my visit. I have come to deliver a message at your temple matriarch's request. May I leave it with you?"

[Hello Purvis]

> Keep our voice low, so as to not wake those sleeping inside.
> Gesture at the injuries on the front of our body.
> "Please forgive the lateness of my visit. I have come to deliver a message at your temple matriarch's request. May I leave it with you?"

>The nyuudo gives a thoughtful frown, then nods toward you and gives you an expectant look.

>_

[Monarda]

....... I, eh, forgot the message..... forgive me. Doing stuff on 4 quests and 1 RtD kinda messes with my memory.

[Kilgamayan]

> "This is in regards to the key I purchased from your mouse this morning. It fit into a metal slab set into the ground, deep in the forested part of the mountain. Setting the key into the slab released a malicious serpentine behemoth, which seemed to be a barely-sentient magical construct of some sort. If any here were awake to witness a flash of light from the mountain, it came from that creature. Upon our vanquishing it, it dissolved into a pile of ash, which is still lies somewhere on the mountain as far as I am aware."
> Give a small rueful grin.
> "It seems both your matriarch and I were correct on the matter. While I am glad to see such a dangerous, malicious creature vanquished so that it is no longer a threat to the region, the injured parts of my body think perhaps it would have better left uninvestigated and sealed away."

[Hello Purvis]

> "This is in regards to the key I purchased from your mouse this morning. It fit into a metal slab set into the ground, deep in the forested part of the mountain. Setting the key into the slab released a malicious serpentine behemoth, which seemed to be a barely-sentient magical construct of some sort. If any here were awake to witness a flash of light from the mountain, it came from that creature. Upon our vanquishing it, it dissolved into a pile of ash, which is still lies somewhere on the mountain as far as I am aware."
> Give a small rueful grin.
> "It seems both your matriarch and I were correct on the matter. While I am glad to see such a dangerous, malicious creature vanquished so that it is no longer a threat to the region, the injured parts of my body think perhaps it would have better left uninvestigated and sealed away."

>The nyuudo listens to your message, its face stony and impassive. Then it places its hands together and bows toward you.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Return the gesture.
> "Thank you. I will detain you no longer. Have a pleasant evening."

[Hello Purvis]

> Return the gesture.
> "Thank you. I will detain you no longer. Have a pleasant evening."

>The nyuudo bows its head again, then gives you a small, mischievous smile that brings to mind some of the older, wilier members of your court, centuries ago.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> What might it mean?

[Hello Purvis]

> What might it mean?

>You suspect, given the vague whispers of desire you can hear from him in the quiet, that he is enjoying a private joke.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Farewell, and please give your matriarch my regards. Perhaps we will see each other tomorrow."
> Head back to our assembled group.

[Hello Purvis]

> "Farewell, and please give your matriarch my regards. Perhaps we will see each other tomorrow."
> Head back to our assembled group.

>The nyuudo nods once, then gently closes the door as you turn away.
>You return to your group. "Are we gooooooonna fight now?" Yoshika says, her voice almost gratingly loud in the quiet night.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Shake head.
> "No. No hostilities should result from the deliverance of that message. We shall take our leave instead, as planned."

[Hello Purvis]

> Shake head.
> "No. No hostilities should result from the deliverance of that message. We shall take our leave instead, as planned."

>"Where to next?" says Futo.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Which is closer to the village, the Hakurei Shrine or the explorer kids' house?

[Hello Purvis]

> Which is closer to the village, the Hakurei Shrine or the explorer kids' house?

>They are about equally distant, you think.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Which one is closer to the Underground entrance?
> Which one is closer to the Bamboo Forest?
> Which one is closer to the distress part of Youkai Mountain where the behemoth's remains lie?

[Hello Purvis]

> Which one is closer to the Underground entrance?
> Which one is closer to the Bamboo Forest?
> Which one is closer to the distress part of Youkai Mountain where the behemoth's remains lie?

>You are certain the explorer's house is nominally closer to the Underground entrance, and definitely closer to the Bamboo Forest. The Hakurei Shrine is probably nominally closer to the battleground.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Let us check on Miss Meira next, if anyone at the shrine is still awake."

[Hello Purvis]

> "Let us check on Miss Meira next, if anyone at the shrine is still awake."

>"As you wish, Crown Prince," says Futo.
>Tojiko approaches you before you can prepare to depart. "Crown Prince," she says quietly, "I might recommend you go see her on your own? I can't imagine she wants to see a whole group, particularly you know who."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Hmm...maybe."
> Tap our chin in thought.
> "I might have an idea..."
> Look to Seiga.
> "Seiga, I have intentionally withheld the location of your home until now. Do you wish to keep it a secret?"

[Hello Purvis]

> "Hmm...maybe."
> Tap our chin in thought.
> "I might have an idea..."
> Look to Seiga.
> "Seiga, I have intentionally withheld the location of your home until now. Do you wish to keep it a secret?"

>"Seclusion is one of selling points of it, yes," says Seiga.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Nod.
> "In that case, here is what I propose. I will visit the Shrine to see if anyone is awake. In the meantime, the rest of you should return to the battle site on the mountain, and collect the remaining horns from that creature. I believe you can sequester them away in the old entrance to the mausoleum."

[Hello Purvis]

> Nod.
> "In that case, here is what I propose. I will visit the Shrine to see if anyone is awake. In the meantime, the rest of you should return to the battle site on the mountain, and collect the remaining horns from that creature. I believe you can sequester them away in the old entrance to the mausoleum."

>"Where shall we meet?" says Futo.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Perhaps back at the Lunarian manor?"

[Hello Purvis]

> "Perhaps back at the Lunarian manor?"

>"That would be fine," says Seiga. "I can easily show them the way."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Splendid. Though I would like that trap back, in the event that I encounter the huntress again."

[Hello Purvis]

> "Splendid. Though I would like that trap back, in the event that I encounter the huntress again."

>"Ah yes," says Seiga, as she hands it back to you. "I had gotten rather used to lugging it around."

>_