Iku Quest Drei - A Z-Machine Adventure

[Hello Purvis]

> "I understand that, and I hope for that and will work toward that myself. But I meant in a more immediate sense. Is there any task in particular you want to do? Any particular location you want to visit?"

>"Well, um..." says Tenshi, frowning a bit. "I wouldn't getting some lamprey skewers. But...maybe we really ought to deal with that tsuchinoko, because I wasn't kidding when I said it was over there"
>This time, she points, a bit to the right and clearly looking behind you.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> How hungry are we?
> "I suppose I could go for a bit a food. I don't have a lot of money on me, though."
 >"But if you think the snake is best dealt with now, then we can do that first."

[Hello Purvis]

> How hungry are we?
> "I suppose I could go for a bit a food. I don't have a lot of money on me, though."
 >"But if you think the snake is best dealt with now, then we can do that first."

>You wouldn't mind something to eat, honestly.
>"Oh," she says. "And...yeah. It's kinda right there..."

>_

[nolrai2]

> Turn around. Look for snake. Lightning dance!

[Kilgamayan]

Yeah, conversation's mostly over now. I have a few ideas for post-battle, though, that will hopefully build on what this has started.

[Hello Purvis]

> Turn around. Look for snake. Lightning dance!

>You finally look where Tenshi is indicating.
>You didn't notice it at first, as it is half buried in a pile of leaves, but there is definitely a snake there! It looks at you with little black button eyes, and flicks its tongue in your direction. It doesn't seem to be very large, but it's also buried in leaves.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "So what's up with this thing, anyway?"
> Make no aggressive movement yet.

[Hello Purvis]

> "So what's up with this thing, anyway?"
> Make no aggressive movement yet.

>"It's sneaky, that's what!" says Tenshi. "It got me with those vines!"
>You make no aggressive movement. It continues to watch you.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Yeah, that was very surprising. It must be pretty formidable if it was able to get you like that."
> How exactly did Minoriko want us to take care of this snake?
> "Did the vines get you from the trees, or from the ground? Maybe we can avoid getting tangled up again."

[Hello Purvis]

> "Yeah, that was very surprising. It must be pretty formidable if it was able to get you like that."
> How exactly did Minoriko want us to take care of this snake?
> "Did the vines get you from the trees, or from the ground? Maybe we can avoid getting tangled up again."

>She simply said to deal with it in some fashion. Presumably one that would keep it from getting into the granary.
>"From the trees," says Tenshi. "I don't think it makes them, it just uses what's here."
>It flicks it's tongue in your direction again.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Do you know how quickly it moves?"

> Flick our tongue back at it.

[Hello Purvis]

> "Do you know how quickly it moves?"

> Flick our tongue back at it.

>"I don't know how fast it usually is," says Tenshi, glaring at it. "But, it can use vines and stuff to move itself, pretty fast."
>You flick your tongue at it. It doesn't seem to react appreciably, save to repeat the gesture. "You are so silly, sometimes," Tenshi says.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Grin.
> "I've always wanted to do that."
> Can we see any vines on the ground near the snake, or is it too leaf-covered?

[Hello Purvis]

> Grin.
> "I've always wanted to do that."

>"Huh," says Tenshi. "So...what're you gonna do about this thing?"

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Can we see any vines on the ground near the snake, or is it too leaf-covered?
> When Minoriko mentioned this shake as a problem, was it being actively antagonistic, or was it just kind of floating around the granary area?

[Hello Purvis]

> Can we see any vines on the ground near the snake, or is it too leaf-covered?
> When Minoriko mentioned this shake as a problem, was it being actively antagonistic, or was it just kind of floating around the granary area?

>Too many leaves to be sure, but the creepers seem to mostly be on the trees.
>She seemed to indicate it was a future probably that was high probable, rather than one occurring at the moment.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

All right. Now that we've moved on to something more conventional, how do we want to handle this? There's the obvious option of killing it, but as it hasn't actually done anything antagonistic yet, I'm not sure I'm up for killing in cold blood, and I'm not sure Iku would be up for that either, especially given the parallels between its situation and hers.

We could knock it out, I guess, which wouldn't remove the hypocrisy of beating up on an innocent but at least it also wouldn't be taking a life.

We could lure it away from the area, but we'd need something with which to lure it, and we'd need to lure it somewhere that we can be reasonably sure it won't bother the granary. Byakuren seems as good an option as any for this.

Anyone have any preferences, or any other ideas?

[Dormio Ergo Sum]

I wonder if there's a way to capture or relocate it...
What would Byakuren do with it anyway?
And I also wonder if this tsuchinoko can talk.

>Inventory

[Janitor Morgan]

I'd try to lure it someplace else, personally, but what if it decides to come back? We'd have to confine it in the area we lure it to.

As for bait...if it's looking to get into the granary, it's probably not picky about what it eats. A couple peaches might work, but that's dependent on Tenshi being willing to go get them.

[Hello Purvis]

>Inventory

>Wide-brimmed hat (worn as hat)
>Exceedingly Stylish!
>Flamenco Dress (worn as dress)
>Allows both modesty and freedom of movement
>Pink Shawl
>A shawl that represents your status as a part of Bhava-Arga and allows you to defend yourself with devastating techniques.
>Large Black Purse
>Exactly what it sounds like. It holds all your stuff
>Spine Sign: "Acanthodii of the Thunder Clouds"
>This spellcard engulfs you in a shield of electricity. It can be broken with enough force, and only lasts for a short time before it must be renewed
>Light Orb: "Dragon's Gleaming Eyes"
>This recreates an image of one of The Dragon's physical manifestations in lightning and sends it out.
>Cloud Realm: "The Thunder Court in the Sea of Abstruse Clouds"
>Fills the air with webs of lightning, but leaves you motionless.
>Dragonfish: "Dragon Palace's Messenger Swimming Shot"
>Sends electricity spiraling out from you, but leaves you defenseless.
>6☼
>This is 6☼

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> How far away from the edge of the forest are we?
> "Do you happen to have anything that we could use to lure it away from here?"

[Hello Purvis]

> How far away from the edge of the forest are we?
> "Do you happen to have anything that we could use to lure it away from here?"

>It's a little bit of a distance, following the way you came in. Going the other directions, you aren't too sure.
>"I have a little money," says Tenshi, "But I don't think it cares about that kind of thing."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

I'm going to be out all day, so if we don't want to lose initiative, other people are going to have to take care of this thing.

> Frown.
> "I think we may have no choice but to just knock it out. I don't like doing it, but I don't see a better alternative."
> "Wish I had thought to grab some peaches."

[Hello Purvis]

I'm going to be out all day, so if we don't want to lose initiative, other people are going to have to take care of this thing.

> Frown.
> "I think we may have no choice but to just knock it out. I don't like doing it, but I don't see a better alternative."
> "Wish I had thought to grab some peaches."

>"I think it's a great alternative," says Tenshi, "I was hanging up there for like three hours!"

>_

[Suwako Moriya]

> "Granted. I'd rather not kill it, but I'd be okay just knocking it out, then."

[Hello Purvis]

> "Granted. I'd rather not kill it, but I'd be okay just knocking it out, then."

>She nods. "What's the plan? I tried to just rush the stupid thing last time."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

Come on, guys. :|

> How much leaf cover does the snake have?

[Uwa]

It's a stretch but...

> ...Is Tenshi wearing her usual peach-hat?
> If not, ponder if it would be safe to briefly scan the area for possible lures.

[Hello Purvis]

> How much leaf cover does the snake have?

>It is mostly buried. You just see its head poking out under a leaf.

> ...Is Tenshi wearing her usual peach-hat?
> If not, ponder if it would be safe to briefly scan the area for possible lures.

>She is...oh wait, the peaches are missing from it. Apparently the tsuchinoko had the same idea before you did.
>You probably could, it doesn't seem to be preparing to strike immediately. What do you have in mind for a lure?

>_

[Janitor Morgan]

> If it's taken the peaches from Tenshi's hat, it probably likes fruit. Any fruit around?