Iku Quest Cztery: A Z-Machine Adventure

[Hello Purvis]

>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?

>You personally didn't figure it out for some time, you were busy delivering tidings of the coming earthquake, not realizing that Tenshi already caused it, and dealing with the influx of people trying to make their way into Bhava-Agra.
>There wasn't much, honestly. You drug her back from Gensokyo some time before Yukari tore down the Hakurei Shrine again, but she managed to return and cause some more mischief before she was fully satisfied. You're not sure if other knew what to do or not, and this caused some slowdown.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>Presumably it was known that Tenshi had taken the sword, some time before this all occurred?
>And it was not realized that the coming earthquake was at her behest?

[Hello Purvis]

>At the time, it wasn't a problem that she had it. No one really expected her to actually use it.
>It was not.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"Even if Bhava-Agra is as one community, we are still individuals, fully capable of disagreeing with one another, and acting independently. Not every action is a reflection of collective will."
>"And as for allowing it to happen, while that may be strictly true, this was not out of apathy towards Gensokyo, but unawareness of what was taking place there. Call it our mistake if you will; perhaps this is so. But it was not an act of malice or indifference."

[Hello Purvis]

>"Even if Bhava-Agra is as one community, we are still individuals, fully capable of disagreeing with one another, and acting independently. Not every action is a reflection of collective will."
>"And as for allowing it to happen, while that may be strictly true, this was not out of apathy towards Gensokyo, but unawareness of what was taking place there. Call it our mistake if you will; perhaps this is so. But it was not an act of malice or indifference."

>"None of this really changes what I've pointed out, has it?" Yukari says. "In particular, the people who were on the receiving end will find that the fine details do not change the result. But as I said, it is yours to accept the truth or not, merely keep it in mind when you wonder why things are like they are. Now, have you anything else to ask?"

>_

[Kilgamayan]

I'm out of questions. Finding Renko and Maribel seems like our best bet at this point.

But holy goddamn is this game frustrating.

[Blitzer]

>Is it really worth talking to Yukari now? You're probably only going to get somewhat biased answers.

Eh, our best bet is to Hannibal Lecture find the truth rather that attempt to convince anybody at all at this point, but I figure this is obvious.

[DracoOmega]

I'm out of questions. Finding Renko and Maribel seems like our best bet at this point.

Probably still worth asking Rinnosuke if he's heard anything, first.

>"Frankly, it is no more comforting to see an origin for their actions in half truths they hold about us. A closed mind is still just as closed. And it saddens me if this is how we are seen on the surface. But yes, I think that will be all. Thank you for your time and assistance, Yukari."
>Leave and head towards Kourindou

[DracoOmega]

Also, I'm curious about that hairclip that lets one see invisible things. I wouldn't be surprised if this plays into the shadow business. We still haven't picked up a single new valuable in all our time since the last time we were at the shop. Might be worth trading a spellcard for, though.

[Hello Purvis]

>Is it really worth talking to Yukari now? You're probably only going to get somewhat biased answers.

>So it seems. This is much more like the Yukari whom you dealt with during the Scarlet Weather Incident. It's rather annoying that she was the one that directed you toward Tenshi...

>"Frankly, it is no more comforting to see an origin for their actions in half truths they hold about us. A closed mind is still just as closed. And it saddens me if this is how we are seen on the surface. But yes, I think that will be all. Thank you for your time and assistance, Yukari."
>Leave and head towards Kourindou

>"We'll leave it at that, then. You will find things easier if you keep the facts I have told you at heart, though."
>You depart, and head for Kourindou. How will you be going there?
>"You okay?" Tenshi asks.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>Sigh
>"Just frustrated. And tired. Tired of defending ourselves to deaf ears. I'm sure Yukari is probably right. This is probably the basis for much of what it happening. That doesn't make it any more pleasant to hear. This would be a trying enough day without any of the hostility and suspicion that has followed us since its start."

>Head along the road. Try to keep an eye towards the sky. May as least try to get an early warning of any further problems the day decides to furnish us with.

[Hello Purvis]

>Sigh
>"Just frustrated. And tired. Tired of defending ourselves to deaf ears. I'm sure Yukari is probably right. This is probably the basis for much of what it happening. That doesn't make it any more pleasant to hear. This would be a trying enough day without any of the hostility and suspicion that has followed us since its start."

>Head along the road. Try to keep an eye towards the sky. May as least try to get an early warning of any further problems the day decides to furnish us with.

>"Welcome to my pretty much every day," says Tenshi.
>You follow the road. Thankfully, as you head into the forest, you don't see anything other than a rogue faerie skittering off on her own business. You reach the old house that is home to Kourindou, looking practically unchanged. The island floating near it, where Tenshi's sister is supposed at, also seems rather placid.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>Smile faintly
>"Then I can at least be fortunate enough to have someone to share it with. And thank you for asking."

>Enter Kourindou

[Hello Purvis]

>Smile faintly
>"Then I can at least be fortunate enough to have someone to share it with. And thank you for asking."

>Enter Kourindou

>Smile faintly
>"Then I can at least be fortunate enough to have someone to share it with. And thank you for asking."

>Enter Kourindou

>"Heh, I guess," says Tenshi.
>You enter Kourindou, and things seem almost normal in the world. It is practically unchanged from any time that you've been here before the sky fell. You see Rinnosuke sitting at the counter with a small lump of clay and a few tools. "Miss Nagae, Miss Hinanai," he says absently.
>The store contains
>Broken Sword Handle
>Iron Key
>Introductory Nuclear Physics by Kenneth S. Krane.
>Copper Bracelet
>Nightlife (Extended)
>Lacquered Chopsticks
>Loaf of Wheat Bread
>3 Caramels
>Turtle Statue
>Vial of Sand Grains
>Red Gem
>Bag of Mushrooms
>Large Ball of Yarn
>Stethoscope
>Rusted Wakazashi
>Set of Marbles
>Figurine of a Master Lichen
>Pocket Clay Sculpting Set
>String Performance: "Guarneri del Ges?"
>Stuffed Platypus
>Statue of a Robed Black Man
>Can of Alphabet Soup
>Bath Towel
>Bottle of Soil
>Pale Green Plant
>Empty Box
>Blunted Javelin
>Celestial Shawl
>Set of Wolf Ears
>Bag of Glittering Powder
>Glass Bottle

>_

[DracoOmega]

Aww... so much for that. The hairclip's not even here, now.

>"Good day to you, Rinnosuke. It certainly has been quite a day so far."

>Examine copper bracelet, red gem, rusted wakazashi, celestial shawl

[Hello Purvis]

>"Good day to you, Rinnosuke. It certainly has been quite a day so far."

>Examine copper bracelet, red gem, rusted wakazashi, celestial shawl

>He nods, and you take to examining the goods. Tenshi wanders off to look at things as well.
>Copper Bracelet
>A simple band of copper, with a few geometric etchings on it.
>Red Gem
>A cut gem with a red hue; you can see through it slightly.
>Rusted Wakazashi
>A scabbard-less short blade bearing the weight of many years.
>Celestial Shawl
>A shawl favored by many celestials, light enough it floats in even a weak breeze.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"Out of curiosity, are there any unusual properties to this gem and bracelet?"

[Hello Purvis]

>"Out of curiosity, are there any unusual properties to this gem and bracelet?"

>"The gem, it's just a piece of glass," says Rinnosuke. "It looks pretty, so there's some value to it to the right person."
>"The bracelet is an interesting item. It is enchanted to allow its wearer to eat much more than their usual capacity; I believe it was made for magicians engaging in long or particularly draining rituals."

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"Hmmm... that is an interesting property. I don't suppose any of the rest of these items have any non-apparently properties, aside from the ones which were already set out here early this morning?"

[Hello Purvis]

>"I suppose it depends on what you mean by non-apparent," says Rinnosuke, as he cuts into the clay with aching slowness. "Practically everything has a property that isn't apparent."

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"Well, let's say magical, then."

[Hello Purvis]

>"Well, let's say magical, then."

>"Hm, if we narrow it down that way," says Rinnosuke, "That sword is enchanted to cut through weeds, and only weeds. I suppose you might consider that bottle magical, although it really isn't. It contains a song that has yet to be sung."

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"Contains a song yet to be sung? I'm not sure I understand what the means."
>"As for the sword, does that mean you could sweep it through a garden, and it would not damage any of the cultivated plants at all? That sounds most convenient."

[Hello Purvis]

>"Contains a song yet to be sung? I'm not sure I understand what the means."
>"As for the sword, does that mean you could sweep it through a garden, and it would not damage any of the cultivated plants at all? That sounds most convenient."

>"Did I say something unclear?" says Rinnosuke. "There is a song inside it which has yet to be sung."
>"Quite. Though the definition of weeds is rather broad, as I understand it."

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"Does that mean that if the bottle is opened, it would produce this song?"

[Hello Purvis]

>"Does that mean that if the bottle is opened, it would produce this song?"

>He nods, as he carves off a bit of clay, and sets it aside gently.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"Oh, I see. Do you have any idea what kind of song it is?"

[Hello Purvis]

>"Oh, I see. Do you have any idea what kind of song it is?"

>"Unsung," he says, contemplating the clay again.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"I see..."
>Except, not really
>"On another note, I wonder if you may have heard anyone speak of unusual shadows recently?"

[Hello Purvis]

>"I see..."
>Except, not really
>"On another note, I wonder if you may have heard anyone speak of unusual shadows recently?"

>"Unusual shadows?" Rinnosuke asks. "Hmm, well, Miss Renko was in here earlier, and she mentioned something was odd about the shadows the fallen islands were making."

>_