Iku Quest - A Z-Machine Adventure

[Fightest]

> Why do we always respond with violence?
> Why?
> Dodge, twirl.
> "All this shooting is sure likely to attract that shrine maiden coming in this direction. How about we swing a little dance, instead?"
> Break out the robot, timing movements to avoid projectiles.

[Hello Purvis]

>Back up a little and try to shift so that we're not entirely surrounded, while moving out of the path of these new bullets
>Send out a cluster of seeking lightning sparks ahead of us, towards the group of fairies closest to each other

>You try to back away and shift as the bullets arc around you. Some come uncomfortably close as the various curves weave together, but you manage to get away from them.
>It would take a moment for you to prepare that. This carries quite a likelihood of being hit.

> Why do we always respond with violence?
> Why?
> Dodge, twirl.
> "All this shooting is sure likely to attract that shrine maiden coming in this direction. How about we swing a little dance, instead?"
> Break out the robot, timing movements to avoid projectiles.

>Probably because you were shot at first in this case.
>You continue to back away from the shots, find yourself backed against the foliage lining the road.
>"What shrine maiden!" cries the green-haired one as the faeries surround you and continue to fire.
>You have several arcs of bullets coming toward you from a couple directions. You are reasonably certain most dances are not going to get you around them.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>Focus on dodging, for the moment. Try to shift around so that the outside of the forest is not immediately behind us. Use trees for cover against some of the streams if this can help our positioning.
>"The one that was just overhead, taking out any fairies who caught her attention. I saw her flying in this way."

[Hello Purvis]

>Focus on dodging, for the moment. Try to shift around so that the outside of the forest is not immediately behind us. Use trees for cover against some of the streams if this can help our positioning.
>"The one that was just overhead, taking out any fairies who caught her attention. I saw her flying in this way."

>You shift away from the foliage and try weave around the oncoming bullets.
>"Oh yeah! Well!" says one of the faeries, "Maybe you should surrender then!"

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"Surrender? To you? What would that even involve?"

[Hello Purvis]

>"Surrender? To you? What would that even involve?"

>"Obviously!" says the faerie, a mid-sized one with black hair that practically reaches her ankles.
>A few more arcs come at you, you think you should be able to slide between them without too much problem, but you are certain there is one behind you as well.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>Slide between the arcs, moving forward
>Launch a fragmenting lightning orb before us as we do so
>Then duck down and spin around
>See if we can snag the one behind us with a lightning bolt

[Hello Purvis]

>Slide between the arcs, moving forward
>Launch a fragmenting lightning orb before us as we do so
>Then duck down and spin around
>See if we can snag the one behind us with a lightning bolt

>You move between the arcs and send out a fragmenting sphere, then duck down and turn, aiming a lighting bolt at the one behind you. That faerie, the green-haired on, goes down without a word, while you hear another cry out behind you.
>The arc that the green-haired faerie launched at you is approaching quickly.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>Quickly shift sideways, away from this arc. Take care not to also crash into the arcs we slipped past
>Spin back so that we're facing the remaining fairies and their fire
>If we're in a bad position, focus on dodging for a moment
>Otherwise, fire a lightning bolt at the clearest target

[Hello Purvis]

>Quickly shift sideways, away from this arc. Take care not to also crash into the arcs we slipped past
>Spin back so that we're facing the remaining fairies and their fire
>If we're in a bad position, focus on dodging for a moment
>Otherwise, fire a lightning bolt at the clearest target

>You shift sideways, practically rolling away from the attack, then come back up to your feet facing the two remaining faeries.
>Finding yourself in a decent position and seeing your sphere attack took one of them down, you strike the tall one with lighting. She tumbles.
>This leaves the black-haired one who shrieks and flees.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>Sigh
>Poke our head cautiously out of the trees. Can we see any sign of Reimu?

[Hello Purvis]

>Sigh
>Poke our head cautiously out of the trees. Can we see any sign of Reimu?

>You look around, and see Reimu is some distance to the south.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>If we feel the coast is clear on her noticing us, continue on to Renko and Maribel's house.
>May as well stay discretely close to the trees while doing so

[Hello Purvis]

>If we feel the coast is clear on her noticing us, continue on to Renko and Maribel's house.
>May as well stay discretely close to the trees while doing so

>You continue on toward your original goal, keeping close to the trees lest someone else show up.
>Thankfully, you see no one else nor encounter any more faeries; passing by Kourindou and leave the forest without problems. You approach Maribel and Renko's home.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>Knock on the door

[Hello Purvis]

>Knock on the door

>You knock on the door!
>There is no answer.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>Knock again
>Assuming no response, head to Byakuren's temple.

[WHMZakeri]

> Why do we always respond with violence?
> Why?

Lieing is an art, and it must be crafted carefully, and with a goal in mind in order to be done properly. You do not start with the lie. You must end by putting the lie into words.

Oh well, the scenario fits Iku's character under the explanation on panicking.

[Hello Purvis]

>Knock again
>Assuming no response, head to Byakuren's temple.

>There is no response. Apparently they have made good on their threat to go exploring.
>You depart, and head back toward the village. You feel a bit uncomfortable out in the open, after depending on the forest's cover so much. Heading Northward, you can see a couple of floating islands you missed last time to the west of the village, A couple of them fairly large. You think one of them is pretty special to the Bhava-Argan faeries, if you recall properly.
>Regardless, you reach the outskirts of the human village without incident. There aren't quite so many people milling about now, but you notice there are a lot of faeries, and seemingly several other youkai, flying around the orchard isle.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>Well, at least no one's shooting at each other this time
>Around how many qualifies as 'a lot'? Estimate.
>Continue to the temple

[Hello Purvis]

>Well, at least no one's shooting at each other this time
>Around how many qualifies as 'a lot'? Estimate.
>Continue to the temple

>They don't seem to be.
>You suspect there are between thirty to fifty faeries, and a half dozen youkai.
>You continue down the street, past houses, storefronts (such as Shou's Clothes), and a well, until you reach the Myouren Temple.
>The temple is a curious building with a very ship-like design, which is fitting given that used to be a ship. A simple set of covered step lead to an open set of double doors. The upper parts of the shrine are covered with dropcloths, leading you to wonder what they are doing there. Obvious exits are North, South, and West.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>Enter the temple
>Look around for Byakuren

[Hello Purvis]

>Enter the temple
>Look around for Byakuren

>You enter the temple, coming into a lovely wooden hallway leading further in. A couple of doors dot the sides of the hall of it. It is all freshing painted white, you would think that you were in a proper temple rather than a converted ship.
>Heading further inside, you come to an open and spacious room whose decor is mostly subtle scroll-work along the edges of the walls. A small clay statue of the Buddha rests on a small altar, flanked by small censors. The scent of incense is in the air. Sitting near the edge of the room is Byakuren, whom you've never really met before today, due seldom leaving this place. She is as large as the rumors say, one of the very few people who dwarfs you, and does so by quite a bit. You wonder if the ceiling here is even high enough for her?
>Byakuren was in the process of reading something, which she sets aside as you come in. She inclines her head in your direction.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"Good morning, Byakuren. I hope things are well with you, despite all the excitement of the day so far."

[Hello Purvis]

>"Good morning, Byakuren. I hope things are well with you, despite all the excitement of the day so far."

>"I am well," she says. "So far, the events of the day haven't affected me much. Though I imagine Reimu and the others are quite on the warpath. Is there something I can help you with,  Miss...?"

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"Iku, sorry. I oversee the administration of the Dragon Palace. And warpath would be quite an accurate word for it, I think. I narrowly escaped a direct battle with Reimu earlier this morning. She seemed to think it would be simpler to incapacitate me than try to understand what happened. I am... not looking forward to seeing her again before I have some answers to give her."
>"On a tangentially related note, I'm here to deliver a message for you from Patchouli Knowledge. She has expressed interest in creating a formal circle for magicians in Gensokyo, and wished to know if you would be interested."

[Hello Purvis]

>"Iku, sorry. I oversee the administration of the Dragon Palace. And warpath would be quite an accurate word for it, I think. I narrowly escaped a direct battle with Reimu earlier this morning. She seemed to think it would be simpler to incapacitate me than try to understand what happened. I am... not looking forward to seeing her again before I have some answers to give her."
>"On a tangentially related note, I'm here to deliver a message for you from Patchouli Knowledge. She has expressed interest in creating a formal circle for magicians in Gensokyo, and wished to know if you would be interested."

>"To my understanding," says Byakuren, "Answers won't dissuade her too much. And, tell me more about this circle? What would be expected of its members? And who else has she asked, for this matter?"

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"She said the purpose of it would be to to share information, hold discussion on the art, and possibly to pool resources. Anything more specific she would probably raise herself at the first meeting. She was hoping people would be able to gather at the mansion this coming Hunter's Moon. The other people she has asked me to invite are Alice Margatroid, Marisa Kirisame, Eirin Yagokoro, Renko Usami, and Maribel Hearn."

[Hello Purvis]

>"She said the purpose of it would be to to share information, hold discussion on the art, and possibly to pool resources. Anything more specific she would probably raise herself at the first meeting. She was hoping people would be able to gather at the mansion this coming Hunter's Moon. The other people she has asked me to invite are Alice Margatroid, Marisa Kirisame, Eirin Yagokoro, Renko Usami, and Maribel Hearn."

>"That sounds interesting," says Byakuren. "I'll be certain to attend."

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"Thank you. I'll be sure to let her know."
>Nod
>"I'm afraid I'm still in something of a hurry with the current situation, so I should continue on my way. It was nice to meet you, and I hope you have a pleasant day."
>Return to the orchard