Iku Quest P?t: A Z-Machine Adventure

[Hello Purvis]

>"I do not understand all the details myself, but essentially poltergeists are born through the belief of others. Someone believes so strongly that something must exist that this belief resonates with the universe, and brings that existence into being. She, too, was born because others believed so fervently that she must exist; it was impossible for her not to."

>"So...are you saying she's a poltergeist?" asks Maribel.
>"...Oh shit," says Tenshi. "I think I know what you're saying!" she laughs a bit. "Wow..."

>_

[Kasu]

> "Lets hear your theory then Tenshi."

[DracoOmega]

>"Yes, she is a poltergeist. But her significance is greater than that. Think on it for a moment. What belief could have created her: a being of the shadows, who hides herself desperately in that forest, so that no one may know who and what she is?"

[Hello Purvis]

>"Yes, she is a poltergeist. But her significance is greater than that. Think on it for a moment. What belief could have created her: a being of the shadows, who hides herself desperately in that forest, so that no one may know who and what she is?"

>Renko frowns. "...Oh. Well..that's kind of a letdown, when you say it like that."

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"I realize she is not what you were expecting, but she is real. Your belief and the belief of others made her real. Which is a truly incredible thing, when you think about it."
>"Unfortunately, people also believed her to be someone who would hide themselves at all costs. And thus she does, to very dangerous effect."

[Hello Purvis]

>"I realize she is not what you were expecting, but she is real. Your belief and the belief of others made her real. Which is a truly incredible thing, when you think about it."
>"Unfortunately, people also believed her to be someone who would hide themselves at all costs. And thus she does, to very dangerous effect."

>"Heh, so the only reason she's even here is because we made her be here, huh?" says Renko. She shakes her head. "Sort of like saying what we were doing was such a big joke the universe itself had to go an make up a punchline to fit it..."
>"Does that mean she can't be herself?" says Maribel, giving a glance toward Renko. "That is, she's just doing what she thinks others expect of her?"

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"I don't think it works that way. I think she is being herself. It's just that her self was born of these beliefs that others had about her. She's not trying to do what's expected of her. I'd be surprised if she even knew what this was. She's just following her instincts. I wonder how much she's reflected on why she thinks the things she does? She is still nearly a newborn, after all."
>"But I find myself feeling rather sorry for her; something I would not have thought possible before I realized her origin. It must be a lonely, frightful existence to have trust upon one. She has literally known nothing else."

[Hello Purvis]

>"I don't think it works that way. I think she is being herself. It's just that her self was born of these beliefs that others had about her. She's not trying to do what's expected of her. I'd be surprised if she even knew what this was. She's just following her instincts. I wonder how much she's reflected on why she thinks the things she does? She is still nearly a newborn, after all."
>"But I find myself feeling rather sorry for her; something I would not have thought possible before I realized her origin. It must be a lonely, frightful existence to have trust upon one. She has literally known nothing else."

>Maribel frowns.
>"Wait, what?" says Tenshi, screwing up her face.
>"I better take care of this stove," Renko says, turning away and kneeling by the fire again.

>_

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"Whatever the circumstances of her birth, she exists now. What she has wronged must and will be fixed. Of that there is no question. I swore to her that I would let no one else come to harm at her hands. But if she has done this only because she literally knew no other way to act..."
>"I don't think she is fully bound to the circumstances of her creation. I very much want to believe that she is not. Certainly, the Prismrivers seem to be more dynamic individuals than that. I want to help her realize that she can be a better person than she is. That she can be more than the role others made for her. I want to believe that this is possible."

[Kilgamayan]

> "In fact, I suspect this may have already happened to a degree. Her major obsession, other than silencing me, was to find a lost book. She has had it recently, if fairy reports are to be believed, and she certainly doesn't have it now. She was near-crazy just about this book, never mind her desperation to put me away. In my admittedly limited travels and learning about theories behind her, none of them related to a book, so I think it may be a thing to she has grown attached of her own will, rather than something placed on her by the belief of others."

[Hello Purvis]

>"Whatever the circumstances of her birth, she exists now. What she has wronged must and will be fixed. Of that there is no question. I swore to her that I would let no one else come to harm at her hands. But if she has done this only because she literally knew no other way to act..."
>"I don't think she is fully bound to the circumstances of her creation. I very much want to believe that she is not. Certainly, the Prismrivers seem to be more dynamic individuals than that. I want to help her realize that she can be a better person than she is. That she can be more than the role others made for her. I want to believe that this is possible."

> "In fact, I suspect this may have already happened to a degree. Her major obsession, other than silencing me, was to find a lost book. She has had it recently, if fairy reports are to be believed, and she certainly doesn't have it now. She was near-crazy just about this book, never mind her desperation to put me away. In my admittedly limited travels and learning about theories behind her, none of them related to a book, so I think it may be a thing to she has grown attached of her own will, rather than something placed on her by the belief of others."

>Maribel nods, and glances at the poltergeist again. "I've not heard anything about a book," says Maribel. "Have you, Renko?"
>"Not a thing," says Renko, watching the inside of the stove. "So yeah, I guess that's her acting on her own or whatever."

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"She categorically refused to answer any questions earlier, saying that I already knew too much. I wonder if she even knows why she's so concerned about that? I hope that she'll be at least a little more co-operative when she comes to."
>"For that matter, I'm inclined to think we may need her co-operation if we're to restore the stolen shadows."

[Kilgamayan]

> "But hearing nothing about a book is good. It means she's developed wants and cares of her own. She's becoming more of a person than just what was just thrust on her by outside forces. Um, with all due respect."
> "Actually, hrm. Maribel, out of curiosity, how involved were you in this pursuit?"

[Hello Purvis]

>"She categorically refused to answer any questions earlier, saying that I already knew too much. I wonder if she even knows why she's so concerned about that? I hope that she'll be at least a little more co-operative when she comes to."
>"For that matter, I'm inclined to think we may need her co-operation if we're to restore the stolen shadows."

>Maribel nods. "I suppose so. Well, I guess if she is the Brocken Spectre, it would probably involve something that'd let her keep hidden, right?"

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Perhaps. But I do think hearing nothing about a book is good. It could very well mean she's developed wants and cares of her own. She's becoming more of a person than just what was just thrust on her by outside forces. Um, with all due respect."
> "Actually, hrm. Maribel, out of curiosity, how involved were you in this pursuit?"

[Hello Purvis]

> "Perhaps. But I do think hearing nothing about a book is good. It could very well mean she's developed wants and cares of her own. She's becoming more of a person than just what was just thrust on her by outside forces. Um, with all due respect."
> "Actually, hrm. Maribel, out of curiosity, how involved were you in this pursuit?"

>"Well, mostly I was supporting Renko. I've been kind of busy with my own affairs. I did come along from time to time, but it was more of a walk in the forest for me."
>"Wait, you're saying this is the Brocken Spectre?" Tenshi says.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"Indeed. But, uh, then what did you think I was implying, a few moments ago, when you said that you knew what I was saying?"

[Hello Purvis]

>"Indeed. But, uh, then what did you think I was implying, a few moments ago, when you said that you knew what I was saying?"

>Tenshi glares at you. "Shut up."

>_

[DracoOmega]

>Frown
>"It was an honest question. I didn't mean to imply anything."

[Kilgamayan]

> "As strong as I feel the evidence for it is, I cannot say with 100% certainty. If you have another idea, I would be glad to hear it. It's possible I missed something."

[Hello Purvis]

>Frown
>"It was an honest question. I didn't mean to imply anything."

> "As strong as I feel the evidence for it is, I cannot say with 100% certainty. If you have another idea, I would be glad to hear it. It's possible I missed something."

>"Just shut up! You're doing it again!" Tenshi says.
>Maribel grimaces, looking between the two of you.

>

[Kilgamayan]

> Sigh.
> "Very well."

[Hello Purvis]

> Sigh.
> "Very well."

>You sigh. What did you do this time?}
>Tenshi doesn't respond, for good or ill, but it leaves a rather tense silence in the air.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Anyway, what I think we should do now is organize. As bad as I feel for this girl's situation, she's still an immense danger to Gensokyo, and she has still stolen the shadows, and thereby, the life, of at least two of its residents, as well as our entire home. She may be angry and paranoid, but she is cunning and vicious in combat, far more than her direct demeanor indicated otherwise, and it appears she gains power when she steals a shadow. I do not know how she will act upon waking, but I do not want to gamble on her being docile. The more there are ready to deal with her should she rage again, the better."
> "This is why I would like to ask all of you to join me in meeting up with another group who has lost a friend's shadow to this girl. Originally they made me swear secrecy regarding their friend, but given a second shadow has been taken and the culprit has been apprehended, I think they will be willing to relent on that."

[Hello Purvis]

> "Anyway, what I think we should do now is organize. As bad as I feel for this girl's situation, she's still an immense danger to Gensokyo, and she has still stolen the shadows, and thereby, the life, of at least two of its residents, as well as our entire home. She may be angry and paranoid, but she is cunning and vicious in combat, far more than her direct demeanor indicated otherwise, and it appears she gains power when she steals a shadow. I do not know how she will act upon waking, but I do not want to gamble on her being docile. The more there are ready to deal with her should she rage again, the better."
> "This is why I would like to ask all of you to join me in meeting up with another group who has lost a friend's shadow to this girl. Originally they made me swear secrecy regarding their friend, but given a second shadow has been taken and the culprit has been apprehended, I think they will be willing to relent on that."

>Maribel nods, then says, "Wouldn't we just be in the way? Neither of us are very strong, I'm afraid, and it doesn't seem like there is time to really come up with a good plan."

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"Don't worry about strength. I think we will have more than enough of that in supply. But Renko, you were among the very most invested in the Spectre's existence, I believe? I think it would be good for you to be there, when we speak with her."

[Hello Purvis]

>"Don't worry about strength. I think we will have more than enough of that in supply. But Renko, you were among the very most invested in the Spectre's existence, I believe? I think it would be good for you to be there, when we speak with her."

>"...Rather just forget about the whole stupid thing..." she mutters.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"I'm sorry if you feel this renders what you were searching for meaningless. And I'm sorry if you feel foolish for believing so strongly in what may not have then existed. I don't see that you should have to. What's wrong with investing one's hope in an idea? Many people have believed in things that turned out not to be real. How many people can say that their hope MADE something real? That's a powerful thing."
>"And... if you truly had a hand in her creation, I think you may owe it to her not to wish to pretend she did not exist."

[Hello Purvis]

>"I'm sorry if you feel this renders what you were searching for meaningless. And I'm sorry if you feel foolish for believing so strongly in what may not have then existed. I don't see that you should have to. What's wrong with investing one's hope in an idea? Many people have believed in things that turned out not to be real. How many people can say that their hope MADE something real? That's a powerful thing."
>"And... if you truly had a hand in her creation, I think you may owe it to her not to wish to pretend she did not exist."

>"Maybe," says Renko, sighing,  "But that doesn't make me feel any less stupid for it. I guess I'll come, if you really need me."

>_

[DracoOmega]

>Smile gently
>"For what it's worth, I don't think you were stupid at all. But yes, I would like it if you could come. I don't think force will be the means by which we can restore the stolen shadows."