Iku Quest Drei - A Z-Machine Adventure

[Hello Purvis]

>"So, anyone have their pet theories as to what it really is?"
>"And any idea what might have gotten all those faeries so riled up about it this time? Did someone think they spotted something?"

>"I guess it's probably a hoax," says Mystia with a shrug. "But maybe it's not?"
>"There's one out there," Tenshi says. "Hatate's found too many pictures for it to be otherwise."
>"I dunno..." says Mystia.
>You ask about the fight. "Well," says Mystia, "I think it was over whether or not the Brocken Spectre would be on Bhava-Agra."
>She flips the meat a bit, deftly skewers it on two separate sticks, then hands one to you and a larger one to Tenshi.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"Thank you"
>Accept the skewer
>Start to eat

>"What did those pictures look like, anyway?"

[Hello Purvis]

>"Thank you"
>Accept the skewer
>Start to eat

>"What did those pictures look like, anyway?"

>You accept the skewer and start on it with as much politeness as you can muster for meat on a stick. It is tasty, and very juicy! So juice, in fact, you burn your mouth. You're far too used to peaches, this always happens...
>"Weird shadows," says Mystia. "Kinda person-shaped, usually."
>"Other times, footprints and broken branches," says Tenshi through a mouthful of lamprey, "Stuff that shows it was there."
>"Maybe..." says Mystia.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"You said it used to be seen near the mountain, and that turned out to be something that kappa built, right? But now, this one's been seen in the forest near here? Does it ever get seen by the mountain now at all?"
>"Moreover, does it look more or less the same as the old one? I mean, is it still as large?"

[Hello Purvis]

>"You said it used to be seen near the mountain, and that turned out to be something that kappa built, right? But now, this one's been seen in the forest near here? Does it ever get seen by the mountain now at all?"
>"Moreover, does it look more or less the same as the old one? I mean, is it still as large?"

>"That's all I see in the paper, anyways," says Mystia. "But if you don't know where it is, I guess I could be in either. I dunno."
>"Hard to say," Mystia says as you ask about its size. "I don't know, never really thought about it. Probably not, I suppose."

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"I was just thinking that if it was supposedly giant, those broken branches and footprints in the forest ought to be a lot more obvious, wouldn't they? I'd have a hard time believing something quite that bit could stay hidden in there for months, if someone wanted to find it, you know?"

[Hello Purvis]

>"I was just thinking that if it was supposedly giant, those broken branches and footprints in the forest ought to be a lot more obvious, wouldn't they? I'd have a hard time believing something quite that bit could stay hidden in there for months, if someone wanted to find it, you know?"

>"Eientei was hidden for centuries, though," says Tenshi. "And it's a big, huge mansion. It's pretty clear it knows how not to be seen most of the time."

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"Point taken, although it clearly isn't quite so good if it's been spotted several times already."
>"That being said, you said it looks like a person-shaped shadow? Was that just because it was too dark or distant to make out, or did it actually seem to be made of shadow itself?"

[Hello Purvis]

>"Point taken, although it clearly isn't quite so good if it's been spotted several times already."
>"That being said, you said it looks like a person-shaped shadow? Was that just because it was too dark or distant to make out, or did it actually seem to be made of shadow itself?"

>"Well nobody's perfect," says Tenshi with a shrug.
>"The first one," says Mystia. Tenshi nods in agreement.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"Hmmm... well, I wonder if there's anything to it?"
>"How've things been out this way today, anyway? Given the day's events. Some people have taken it... less well than others."

[Hello Purvis]

>"Hmmm... well, I wonder if there's anything to it?"
>"How've things been out this way today, anyway? Given the day's events. Some people have taken it... less well than others."

>Mystia shrugs.
>"It's absolutely out there somewhere," says Tenshi.
>"Well, I was kinda worried at first," says Mystia. "Then some Celestials stopped by, and they were just as confused and scared as I was. Shame they didn't have any money on them, though, they were certainly interested in having some lamprey."

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"Money like this isn't really used in Bhava-Agra, I'm afraid."
>"On the other hand, I'm glad that it's been relatively peaceful here, at least. I've been shot at more times today than I care to count, frankly. And celestials elsewhere have run into trouble with people from the surface, as well."

[Hello Purvis]

>"Money like this isn't really used in Bhava-Agra, I'm afraid."
>"On the other hand, I'm glad that it's been relatively peaceful here, at least. I've been shot at more times today than I care to count, frankly. And celestials elsewhere have run into trouble with people from the surface, as well."

>"Well, it's not terribly surprising, when you guys barge in here like an oni bridal shower," says Mystia. "I'm kinda worried about my apprentice, though. She's sort of a coward, so I can't imagine she's taking it well."

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"Your apprentice?"

[Hello Purvis]

>"Your apprentice?"

>"Yeah, another bird youkai named Tokiko," says Mystia. "You'd know her if you see her. She's got two colors in her hair, kind of short, really..."
>She mimes a rather ample chest with her hands.
>"...kind of shy, but she's getting better about it. Really easy to startle, though."

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"Oh, I actually bumped into her not long ago, then. She had been, uh, hiding under her futon since she saw the islands start to fall. I tried to assure her that things were okay, as best I could. Even invited her to have a few peaches at the orchard, if she felt up to it. I think she was at least considering it, although not necessarily inclined to step outside just then."

[Hello Purvis]

>"Oh, I actually bumped into her not long ago, then. She had been, uh, hiding under her futon since she saw the islands start to fall. I tried to assure her that things were okay, as best I could. Even invited her to have a few peaches at the orchard, if she felt up to it. I think she was at least considering it, although not necessarily inclined to step outside just then."

>"Really?" says Mystia. She smiles a little. "Well, that's good to hear. I was afraid she might have panicked and done something silly. ...Well, sillier. She'll probably come out in a little bit, then."

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"I think I managed to reassure her a little, anyway. She does seem a nice girl, even if a little odd."

[Hello Purvis]

>"I think I managed to reassure her a little, anyway. She does seem a nice girl, even if a little odd."

>Mystia nods. "A little odd, yes. Been meaning to try and get her in contact with one of the chefs in the kappa village. She has to have a talent for sushi, what with all the raw stuff she's eaten..."

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"How'd she end up as your apprentice, anyway? She had an interest in cooking?"

[Hello Purvis]

>"How'd she end up as your apprentice, anyway? She had an interest in cooking?"

>"Actually, she barely knew it existed," says Mystia. "She's a bit new. Got introduced to me by another new kid, human magician from the outside world, looks just like Yukari. She was worried about Tokiko, so I've been helping to show her the ropes."

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"Oh, I think I met her today, too, actually. Maribel, her name is?"
>"How's Tokiko been taking to it, then?"

[Hello Purvis]

>"Oh, I think I met her today, too, actually. Maribel, her name is?"
>"How's Tokiko been taking to it, then?"

>Mystia nods. "That's her.
>"Pretty well," says Mystia. "She's pretty curious and chatty, once you get past her wariness at pretty much everything."

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"Well, I can attest to the wariness, at the very least. But I think I could see the rest fitting, too."
>Around what time of day is it, now?

[Hello Purvis]

>"Well, I can attest to the wariness, at the very least. But I think I could see the rest fitting, too."
>Around what time of day is it, now?

>Mystia nods.
>It's a bit past noon. Maybe 1 PM or so.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>Finish up that skewer

[Kilgamayan]

> "So it sounds like you tend to hear things around here. Have you heard anything about weird shadows recently? Not weird like the Brocken Spectre, weird like...well, to put it simply, the islands that dropped? They're not casting normal shadows. They're lighter than they should be."

[Hello Purvis]

>Finish up that skewer

>You finish up the skewer. It is tasty and satisfying, but your mouth is definitely going to be bothering you for a day or two from that burn. Vexing.

> "So it sounds like you tend to hear things around here. Have you heard anything about weird shadows recently? Not weird like the Brocken Spectre, weird like...well, to put it simply, the islands that dropped? They're not casting normal shadows. They're lighter than they should be."

>"I haven't heard about anything like that," says Mystia, shaking her head and frowning. "I didn't even know there was anything weird about the islands' shadows."

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"Yes, I hadn't noticed it at first myself, either, but they're definitely abnormal. We think it may be connected to why they fell, but we don't have a lot of leads beyond that, really."

[Hello Purvis]

>"Yes, I hadn't noticed it at first myself, either, but they're definitely abnormal. We think it may be connected to why they fell, but we don't have a lot of leads beyond that, really."

>Mystia nods. "I don't know what to tell you. Maybe you should try to find out if anything was weird before it happened?"

>_