Iku Quest Cztery: A Z-Machine Adventure

[Hello Purvis]

>"Well, whoever is doing this, wherever they are, must be doing it in a way that doesn't attract your attention, mustn't they? I get the impression you had no idea anything was amiss until the islands suddenly feel below the clouds."

>"Quite so," says Yukari.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"In any case, I'm not sure I can think of anything else to ask right now. Have you perhaps had any more thoughts on the idea of tracking these shadows?"

[Hello Purvis]

>"In any case, I'm not sure I can think of anything else to ask right now. Have you perhaps had any more thoughts on the idea of tracking these shadows?"

>"I have little that is definite," says Yukari. "I do wonder, if a separate shadow means that a person is in two places at once, what would happen when you try to track her through mystical means? Well...I imagine it would be quite useless, but I am hardly a magician."

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"Hmmm... Suwako did say that she appeared to be in two places at once, although she could tell little other than that. Apparently she was somewhat hindered by her not being a devoted believer in her. That should matter little for magical methods, I assume, but I'm not sure they're as strong in the first place."

[Hello Purvis]

>"Hmmm... Suwako did say that she appeared to be in two places at once, although she could tell little other than that. Apparently she was somewhat hindered by her not being a devoted believer in her. That should matter little for magical methods, I assume, but I'm not sure they're as strong in the first place."

>"I would be surprised if any magician around here could match Suwako on a good day," says Yukari. "But matters of faith can be a problem. I wouldn't expect much better than that, would you?"

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"Well, all Suwako could tell me was 'not on the mountain'. But looking for something the size of a shadow across all of Gensokyo is quite the proverbial needle in the haystack. So, perhaps not expect, so much as hope."

[Hello Purvis]

>"Well, all Suwako could tell me was 'not on the mountain'. But looking for something the size of a shadow across all of Gensokyo is quite the proverbial needle in the haystack. So, perhaps not expect, so much as hope."

>"I would count on more mundane methods, first," says Yukari. "I can't imagine tracking would be a speedy process at the best of times."
>"We could split up," says Tenshi.
>"Ah, I was afraid you were struck mute by the majesty of the day," says Yukari.
>"I was just keeping out of the way, geez!"

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"Splitting up would certainly let us cover more ground, and we may have a great deal of ground to cover at this rate. On the other hand, I would be glad if we were both in the same place at the same time if Marisa decides she hasn't beaten up enough people already today."
>"I wonder what Sanae's investigated since we parted? I wonder where she is, now..."

[Hello Purvis]

>"Splitting up would certainly let us cover more ground, and we may have a great deal of ground to cover at this rate. On the other hand, I would be glad if we were both in the same place at the same time if Marisa decides she hasn't beaten up enough people already today."
>"I wonder what Sanae's investigated since we parted? I wonder where she is, now..."

>"I suppose you're right," says Tenshi.
>"I've not see her, either," Yukari says.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"Even if she hasn't found anything, that at least narrows down where we should search ourselves. I was thinking it an advantage that at least she can travel without fear of being accosted, but given that Marisa just took it upon herself to attack Kanako, I wonder if Sanae might be a target herself now. Apparently we're co-conspirators. Along with Eientei, and who knows who else at this point."

[Hello Purvis]

>"Even if she hasn't found anything, that at least narrows down where we should search ourselves. I was thinking it an advantage that at least she can travel without fear of being accosted, but given that Marisa just took it upon herself to attack Kanako, I wonder if Sanae might be a target herself now. Apparently we're co-conspirators. Along with Eientei, and who knows who else at this point."

>"I don't think she would have found anything," says Tenshi. "She doesn't even know about Ni-Uh...about the person missing her shadow.."
>"You really do seem quite indignant at what is a very reasonable explanation for all this, when you look at it objectively," says Yukari. "Do you really thing you're that far above suspicion?"

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"Forgive me if I do not consider Marisa's reasoning that 'we're both from the sky' is enough to assume we were in league with Eientei as sound. Perhaps one could suspect the island's descent was an intentional act at first, but it should take no more than a cursory glance at their occupants' conditions to make clear that it's as much a surprise to us as it is to everyone down here."
>"And it is not simply that I was suspected, but that I was judged and condemned absolutely, in absence of any real evidence of guilt beyond my obvious association with Bhava-Agra. Marisa went as far as to attack Kanako simply because Sanae did not shoot me out of the sky herself. I have taken no hostile actions towards people on the surface. In fact, I have gone out of my way to disarm hostilities towards them. Yet I am fired upon in lieu of a greeting, and everything I say is assumed to be a lie, despite significant evidence supporting my words. So no, I cannot consider these actions reasonable."

[Hello Purvis]

>"Forgive me if I do not consider Marisa's reasoning that 'we're both from the sky' is enough to assume we were in league with Eientei as sound. Perhaps one could suspect the island's descent was an intentional act at first, but it should take no more than a cursory glance at their occupants' conditions to make clear that it's as much a surprise to us as it is to everyone down here."
>"And it is not simply that I was suspected, but that I was judged and condemned absolutely, in absence of any real evidence of guilt beyond my obvious association with Bhava-Agra. Marisa went as far as to attack Kanako simply because Sanae did not shoot me out of the sky herself. I have taken no hostile actions towards people on the surface. In fact, I have gone out of my way to disarm hostilities towards them. Yet I am fired upon in lieu of a greeting, and everything I say is assumed to be a lie, despite significant evidence supporting my words. So no, I cannot consider these actions reasonable."

>"Really, I've not seen any evidence that you aren't the cause," says Yukari.
>"Aside from claiming to be caught up in it. What I do see, however, is you roaming the countryside in the company of one of the most suspicious people of them, condemned by the unfortunate testimony of another very likely suspect. At the same time, it's no secret your people did fight with ours, nor is it any secret that Bhava-Agra has been a problem before. On top of this, you seem to be forgetting not quite everyone is on the same level of enlightenment that you are, and in fact do have feelings and fears which have a way of driving them in uncertain situations. If you should be mad at anyone, I would say there are three people. One being right beside you there for making Bhava-Agra suspicious to begin with, one being in Eientei, and one being the real culprits. Marisa, on the other hand, is doing much the same as you, grasping at whatever straws she can to deal with this problem. It's merely an unfortunate fact that you are a very suspicious straw indeed, moreso thanks to Eirin."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Wait, when was Bhava-Agra as a whole a problem to the rest of Gensokyo?

[Hello Purvis]

> Wait, when was Bhava-Agra as a whole a problem to the rest of Gensokyo?

>You certainly don't remember this occurring.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Frown.
> "Momentarily ignoring everything else in that explanation I object to, you seem to imply Bhava-Agra, as a whole, has been a problem to Gensokyo in the past. I must admit I don't remember any such incident."

[Hello Purvis]

> Frown.
> "Momentarily ignoring everything else in that explanation I object to, you seem to imply Bhava-Agra, as a whole, has been a problem to Gensokyo in the past. I must admit I don't remember any such incident."

>"I remember quite clearly when Bhava-Agra was a problem to Gensokyo," says Yukari. "I had sun showers following me for weeks."

>_

[Blitzer]

>Raise eyebrows.
>"What happened?"

[Kilgamayan]

> "And when was this?"

[Hello Purvis]

>Raise eyebrows.
>"What happened?"

> "And when was this?"

>"Um," says Tenshi, "I think she's talking about me..."
>"Just so," says Yukari.

>_

[Blitzer]

>"You can't hold all of Bhava-Agra accountable for just Tenshi's actions."

[Kilgamayan]

>"You can't hold all of Bhava-Agra accountable for just Tenshi's actions."

> Belay this, it risks damaging our budding rapport with Tenshi by throwing the blame onto her.

(Sorry, Blitzer. I appreciate the sentiment, but I'd like to dance around Tenshi's past transgressions as much as possible.)

> "Which is why I made sure to specify Bhava-Agra as a whole, and not one or two individuals from it."

[Hello Purvis]

> "Which is why I made sure to specify Bhava-Agra as a whole, and not one or two individuals from it."

>"Hmmm?" says Yukari. "Are you denying that Bhava-Agra is a united entity, rather than a number of distinct autonomous regions? Are you perhaps claiming Tenshi is in fact not a part of Bhava-Agra, and in fact holds a position of some repute there? Are you indicating that Bhava-Agra didn't let her have that weapon, or that you didn't stop her from using it until well after the problem was known? I'm afraid I don't see where the problem lies."
>Tenshi is glaring daggers at Yukari.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Are you asking these me things because you actually want proper answers to them, or just because you want to rile both of us up?"

[Hello Purvis]

> "Are you asking these me things because you actually want proper answers to them, or just because you want to rile both of us up?"

>"I am merely presenting what you seem to have forgotten," says Yukari. "It is up to you to acknowledge it or not. But do keep it in mind when you wonder why people are inclined not to trust you whether you acknowledge or not, particularly while casting aspersions in the company of others."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "I do not believe I have forgotten whether or not the citizens of Bhava-Agra are a hive mind, for one, which seemed to be one of your founding questions. But that is beside the main point."
> "I do understand that I am not particularly trustworthy in this case, but I do not understand condoning the act of assuming guilt until innocence is proven. You say there is no evidence that we are not at fault. I submit that there is no evidence we are at fault. No concrete evidence, anyway. I suppose there is circumstantial evidence for both theories, but I cannot imagine the strength of what suggests we may be at fault outweighs the strength of what suggests we may not be at fault, especially not to the point where beating up innocents is considered a proper course of action. And I am not referring to Eirin."

[Hello Purvis]

> "I do not believe I have forgotten whether or not the citizens of Bhava-Agra are a hive mind, for one, which seemed to be one of your founding questions. But that is beside the main point."
> "I do understand that I am not particularly trustworthy in this case, but I do not understand condoning the act of assuming guilt until innocence is proven. You say there is no evidence that we are not at fault. I submit that there is no evidence we are at fault. No concrete evidence, anyway. I suppose there is circumstantial evidence for both theories, but I cannot imagine the strength of what suggests we may be at fault outweighs the strength of what suggests we may not be at fault, especially not to the point where beating up innocents is considered a proper course of action. And I am not referring to Eirin."

>"Hm," says Yukari. "if you wish to misrepresent me, then I believe all that needs to be said has been said."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Did you mean something else when you said 'Bhava-Agra is a united entity, rather than a number of distinct autonomous regions'? I admit I may have misunderstood your intentions."

[Hello Purvis]

> "Did you mean something else when you said 'Bhava-Agra is a united entity, rather than a number of distinct autonomous regions'? I admit I may have misunderstood your intentions."

>"You really have hit your head quite hard, haven't you?" says Yukari. "Would you say that the Scarlet Devil Mansion and the Palace of the Earth Spirits acknowledges the same master or works toward the same goals? Would you say the same of any two places in Bhava-Agra? The answers are quite obvious. Your realm works with a unity of purpose, and acknowledges the same authority. As such, it seems very odd to decry the actions of one of your own as not of Bhava-Agra, especially in light of the fact you allowed it to happen and allowed it to continue. "

>_

[DracoOmega]

>How long were we aware of what Tenshi was doing before she was stopped?
>What effort was directed towards retrieving the sword, or putting an end to her troublemaking?