Iku Quest Dos - A Z-Machine Adventure

[Hello Purvis]

>Continue further in
>Can we see signs of a path, anywhere?

>You continue further in, and don't see signs of a path anywhere. The leaves are simply too thick. You are also now no longer certain you could find your way out by the ground.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>Ascend out of the forest
>From the air, see if we can see a path leading into the woods from either direction

[Hello Purvis]

>Ascend out of the forest
>From the air, see if we can see a path leading into the woods from either direction

>You ascend, and can see the road into it pretty easily in the distance.
>"What're you doing?" Tenshi asks from below.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"Well, I don't actually know where they live, more specifically than this forest, so I went up to look for a path. I can see one in the distance."
>Do we think we could follow towards it from the ground?

[Hello Purvis]

>"Oh. I would have just asked one of the faeries, myself," says Tenshi.
>You can probably find your way toward it.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"Oh. I suppose that might have worked, as well."
>Descend
>"I think the path is this way, though."
>Point, and move towards it

[Hello Purvis]

>"Oh. I suppose that might have worked, as well."
>Descend
>"I think the path is this way, though."
>Point, and move towards it

>You descend and tell Tenshi what you've found.  "Okay," she says, as the two of you begin that direction.
>You make your way toward the south, seeking out the road. It's not a bad walk, you've more or less gotten over your soreness from the fights this morning.
>"Excuse me," comes a voice from above. "Are you two lost?"

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"If being unsure of where you're headed is the same as being lost, quite possibly."
>Look up. Can we identify who's speaking to us?

[Hello Purvis]

>"If being unsure of where you're headed is the same as being lost, quite possibly."
>Look up. Can we identify who's speaking to us?

>"I would say so," says the speaker.
>You look up to see an average-sized blonde woman in a red bib-style dress adorned with wheat prints and yellow blouse. She wears a red hat with grapes on it. She sits in the boughs of a tree, looking toward you curiously. You recognize her as the goddess of the harvest.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>Smile and nod our head towards her
>"Then I suppose I picked a good direction after all. I was looking for you, in fact. Good morning, Minoriko."
>Although we know of her, have we ever actually met?
>If not: "I am Iku Nagae of the Dragon Palace. And this is Tenshi."
>"I trust you're aware what's happened with Bhava-Agra this morning?"

[Hello Purvis]

>Smile and nod our head towards her
>"Then I suppose I picked a good direction after all. I was looking for you, in fact. Good morning, Minoriko."
>Although we know of her, have we ever actually met?
>If not: "I am Iku Nagae of the Dragon Palace. And this is Tenshi."
>"I trust you're aware what's happened with Bhava-Agra this morning?"

>You smile toward the deity and nod. She returns the latter gesture.
>You have seen her, but never really spoken.
>"I welcome you, Messenger," she says. "And you as well, Tenshi."
>"Yeah, yeah," says Tenshi.
>"Very aware," Minoriko says, frowning. "You bear a message for me from The Dragon, then?"

>_

[DracoOmega]

>Shake our head.
>"No, nothing official like that. I've just been traveling around Gensokyo, trying to find out why the islands have fallen. Unfortunately, I've encountered distrust or even outright hostility nearly everywhere I've gone."
>"Bhava-Agra itself sustained damage in the rapid descent. There are injuries, and damage to structures, but also a significant portion of our harvest has been destroyed. It's this latter point that brings me to you."

[Hello Purvis]

>Shake our head.
>"No, nothing official like that. I've just been traveling around Gensokyo, trying to find out why the islands have fallen. Unfortunately, I've encountered distrust or even outright hostility nearly everywhere I've gone."
>"Bhava-Agra itself sustained damage in the rapid descent. There are injuries, and damage to structures, but also a significant portion of our harvest has been destroyed. It's this latter point that brings me to you."

>Minoriko nods for you to continue.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>Do we know the general extent of Minoriko's abilities, and how directly she tends to get involved in the whole harvest process?

[Hello Purvis]

>Do we know the general extent of Minoriko's abilities, and how directly she tends to get involved in the whole harvest process?

>You don't know the general extent of her abilities, but she tends not to get directly involved, instead influencing things from a distance.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"As things stand now, I think we'll likely have significant difficulties sustaining ourselves on what remains. The harvest was already looking to be a little sparse before so much of it got smashed against the ground. I'm not sure how much you are either able or inclined to help, but I thought that I would ask."

[Hello Purvis]

>"As things stand now, I think we'll likely have significant difficulties sustaining ourselves on what remains. The harvest was already looking to be a little sparse before so much of it got smashed against the ground. I'm not sure how much you are either able or inclined to help, but I thought that I would ask."

>"It would be improper, I think, to simply step in," says Minoriko. "There are crop failures throughout the worlds. However sympathetic I am toward the situation, it would not be right to take a direct hand in this problem."

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"I suppose I can understand that position. I don't mean to suggest that our plight is more important than others. But I thought that perhaps your influence might extend there more easily, given how close it is."
>"Baring that, perhaps there is something that could be done, indirectly?"

[Hello Purvis]

>"I suppose I can understand that position. I don't mean to suggest that our plight is more important than others. But I thought that perhaps your influence might extend there more easily, given how close it is."
>"Baring that, perhaps there is something that could be done, indirectly?"

>"It's not impossible to assist," she says. "But, I would need something in turn."

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"Of course. What can I do?"

[Hello Purvis]

>"Of course. What can I do?"

>"I have received entreaties, lately, that a tsuchinoko has been seen near the granaries at the human town. If you could drive it away, it would certainly allow for a additional blessing toward Bhava-Agra's problems."

>_

[DracoOmega]

>What do we know about tsuchinokos?

[Hello Purvis]

>What do we know about tsuchinokos?

>They are fat snakes.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>And that's it?
>"I can certainly endeavor to do this. Has it been causing problems for the villagers?"

[Kilgamayan]

>tsuchinoko

> Gesundheit.

[Hello Purvis]

>And that's it?
>"I can certainly endeavor to do this. Has it been causing problems for the villagers?"

>That's what you know. They're not really a feature of Bhava-Agra.
>"It will if it gets into a granary," says Minoriko.

> Gesundheit.

>Your mom.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"I see... Perhaps you could tell me a little more about them? I know little other than that they're somewhat fat snakes."

[Hello Purvis]

>"I see... Perhaps you could tell me a little more about them? I know little other than that they're somewhat fat snakes."

>"They are servants of Kaya no Hime," says Minoriko. "Thus, they have some communion over plantlife. They are also rather voracious eaters, which is why it is a concern."

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"Ah, I can see how that would be a problem, then. Do you have any suggestions about dealing with them? You obviously are more familiar with them than I am."

[Hello Purvis]

>"Ah, I can see how that would be a problem, then. Do you have any suggestions about dealing with them? You obviously are more familiar with them than I am."

>"To my understanding, they aren't very strong," she says. "But they are fast, and can be cunning. At the same time, they're also rather lazy. I don't know if you would be able to trap it, or if you need to go hunting for it. Oh, and I believe they are poisonous, so try not to get bitten."
>"So we'll just have to zap it first, right?"

>_