Iku Quest Cztery: A Z-Machine Adventure

[Hello Purvis]

>"Or perhaps the situation was rather more desperate? In either case, it's a point of interest, and we don't have much else to go on here yet, so I think we ought to follow one of these trails and see if it leads to anything."
>"Do you have a preference as to which?"
>If not, follow the track leading north

>"Yeah, that's probably not a bad idea. And, um, if that one keeps going north, I think it'll take us into the bamboo forest, wouldn't it?"

>_

[DracoOmega]

>Assuming this appears to be true, nod
>"Although it isn't clear whether someone arrived from that direction, or departed that way."
>For that matter, what's to the south of here
>And how far north is the bamboo forest from our current position, approximately?

[Hello Purvis]

>Assuming this appears to be true, nod
>"Although it isn't clear whether someone arrived from that direction, or departed that way."
>For that matter, what's to the south of here
>And how far north is the bamboo forest from our current position, approximately?

>Thinking on it, you're pretty sure Tenshi has gotten her directions mixed up. It wouldn't be the first time. North from here should be the fields and then human town, southward should be the general vicinity of the lake and Scarlet Devil Mansion. The Bamboo forest should be to the west; you assume Tokiko's home would be northwest, but you may have veered off course enough that it's difficult to tell.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"Actually, I think the human village is to the north of here. The bamboo forest should be more to the west, I believe."

[Hello Purvis]

>"Actually, I think the human village is to the north of here. The bamboo forest should be more to the west, I believe."

>"Oh. Well...dammit." says Tenshi. "Whatever, then."

>_

[DracoOmega]

>Follow the trail northward

[Hello Purvis]

>Follow the trail northward

>You follow the trail, such as it is, northward. It meanders a bit, sometimes going east or west. After a few dozen yards, you lose track of it.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>Examine our surroundings carefully. If we can see no sign of the trail, can we see any other sign of someone's passage? Or anything else amiss for that matter?

[Hello Purvis]

>Examine our surroundings carefully. If we can see no sign of the trail, can we see any other sign of someone's passage? Or anything else amiss for that matter?

>You look around carefully. You don't see anything you can reasonably say is the sign of the trail-makings passage. There's a few things that could be; a broken twig here and a bent bit of underbrush there, but that could be caused by anything. You think the leaves just didn't catch enough to leave a proper trace.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"Oh well. Doesn't seem to be much more to see this way."
>Head back to the damaged tree, and follow the southward path

[Hello Purvis]

>"Oh well. Doesn't seem to be much more to see this way."
>Head back to the damaged tree, and follow the southward path

>"Stupid leaves," Tenshi mutters.
>You find your way back to the damaged tree, and follow the southern path. This one meanders as well, but it quickly angles toward the east, where the foliage grows more dense.
>"Faeries to the left," says Tenshi in a low voice.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>Nod
>Look towards the faeries

[Hello Purvis]

>Nod
>Look towards the faeries

>You look over, and see a group of three smallish faeries, hovering some distance away over a dried out thorny bush, talking among themselves.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>Try to listen in on their conversation, if we're close enough
>If not, try to quietly approach, although not so close that it would startle them if they suddenly noticed us there

[Hello Purvis]

>Try to listen in on their conversation, if we're close enough
>If not, try to quietly approach, although not so close that it would startle them if they suddenly noticed us there

>They are all chatting at once, and you can't really follow it. But they seem to be worrying about whether they'll have enough of something.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>Continue listening for a few more moments, and if we still can't make any sense out of it, try approaching

[Hello Purvis]

>Continue listening for a few more moments, and if we still can't make any sense out of it, try approaching

>You think you catch some concerns about being late, but aside from that
>You approach, the faeries quickly notices your presence and their conversation comes to a halt. "There's people here!" one of them cries.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>Smile
>"Good afternoon. I couldn't help but overhear that there seems to be some sort of problem?"

[Hello Purvis]

>Smile
>"Good afternoon. I couldn't help but overhear that there seems to be some sort of problem?"

>You smile and inquire.
>"Nothing!" one of them cries.
>"We're getting a pet!" says another at the same time.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"A pet? That sounds interesting. What kind of pet is it?"

[Hello Purvis]

>"A pet? That sounds interesting. What kind of pet is it?"

>"Nothing!" the first faerie says again.
>"We don't know yet," says one who has yet to speak.
>"Haven't seen it yet." says the second fidgeting a bit.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"Haven't seen it yet? Then what do you think it is? And, uh, how do you know about it if none of you've seen it?"

[Blitzer]

>Brocken Spectre, huh?

[Hello Purvis]

>"Haven't seen it yet? Then what do you think it is? And, uh, how do you know about it if none of you've seen it?"

>"Nothing!" the first faerie says, waving her hands.
>"Because Sullen Plummet say she was selling it!" says second faerie. "And it's going to be great!"

>Brocken Spectre, huh?

>That'd be some pet.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"Oh, I see. I wonder what it could be... Did she give you a hint, at least?"

[Hello Purvis]

>"Oh, I see. I wonder what it could be... Did she give you a hint, at least?"

>"Um...not as such." says the second.
>"Nothing!" the first faerie cries again.
>"But a whole lot of people are going to be after it!"

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"Oh, are they? What's she selling it for?"
>Look to the first faerie: "And if you're worried, I'm not interested in getting a pet for myself, or anything like that. I'm just curious about it, that's all."

[Hello Purvis]

>"Oh, are they? What's she selling it for?"
>Look to the first faerie: "And if you're worried, I'm not interested in getting a pet for myself, or anything like that. I'm just curious about it, that's all."

>"It's gonna be an auction," says the third faerie. "That's why we're teaming up."
>You give the first faerie your reassurances. "Okay, but if this is a trick, I get to kick you in the knee!"

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"Oh, interesting. Sounds fancy. When's it going to be?"
>To the first fairy: "And it's a deal."

[Hello Purvis]

>"Oh, interesting. Sounds fancy. When's it going to be?"
>To the first fairy: "And it's a deal."

>"Real soon," says the second faerie.
>"I still think we're late..." the third says.

>_