Iku Quest P?t: A Z-Machine Adventure

[Kilgamayan]

> Is there anything else distinctive about them?
> Do they appear to be acting aggressively? If so, begin building a charge.
> Can we check on the goats out of the corner of our eye without looking away from the person? If do, check what they are doing.

[Hello Purvis]

> Is there anything else distinctive about them?
> Do they appear to be acting aggressively? If so, begin building a charge.
> Can we check on the goats out of the corner of our eye without looking away from the person? If do, check what they are doing.

>She does not seem agressive; you think she might be wearing an white smock under the cloak.
>You see some of the goats begin trotting toward her, others seem content to loiter near you.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>Approach her

[Kilgamayan]

> Friend of goats, huh? Wave to this mystery woman while approaching.
> What do we know about Makai?
> Did Tenshi ever repay that favor she owed us when we took over for her at the bar when she went off to go chase that ship?

[Hello Purvis]

>Approach her

>You approach her. She is on the other side of the fence, but you are able to get somewhat closer. The cloak masks what she is doing rather well, but you are certain she is watching you.

>_

> Friend of goats, huh? Wave to this mystery woman while approaching.
> What do we know about Makai?
> Did Tenshi ever repay that favor she owed us when we took over for her at the bar when she went off to go chase that ship?

>You wave; you think you see her nod a bit in turn.
>You do not know a great deal. It is a realm lower than Gensokyo; spiritually speaking; as Gensokyo is lower than Bhava-Agra.
>No, she never did. You've never really called upon it either; you've actually forgotten about it until you remembered just now.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>Are we about as close as we can get, without crossing over the fence, again?
>Does she seem to be approaching us, as well, or simply standing still, watching us?

[Kilgamayan]

> When feel we're in decent speaking range, gesture at the goats.
> "May I assume these little friendlies are yours?"

[Hello Purvis]

>Are we about as close as we can get, without crossing over the fence, again?
>Does she seem to be approaching us, as well, or simply standing still, watching us?

>You soon reach that point.
>For the time being, she seems to be just watching you.

> When feel we're in decent speaking range, gesture at the goats.
> "May I assume these little friendlies are yours?"

>You're about as decent as you can get without hopping the fence.
>"They are," she says. "And what brings a Bhava-Agran without her regalia here? Perhaps you've committed some atrocity?"

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"Would it disappoint you if I told you no? To be perfectly honest, I'm not entirely certain how I came here. I believe I fell through some sort of hole between dimensions."
>"Am I correct in assuming this is Makai?"

[Hello Purvis]

>"Would it disappoint you if I told you no? To be perfectly honest, I'm not entirely certain how I came here. I believe I fell through some sort of hole between dimensions."
>"Am I correct in assuming this is Makai?"

>She nods. "That you are correct about. But one wonders about the word of a Bhava-Agran that would be here?"
>She has a sword in hand; when did she get a sword? You certain didn't see her draw it...

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"I give you my word that what I say is true. I cannot force you to believe it, of course. But I mean no harm to anyone here, and in fact, would rather like to know the way back to Gensokyo."

[Hello Purvis]

>"I give you my word that what I say is true. I cannot force you to believe it, of course. But I mean no harm to anyone here, and in fact, would rather like to know the way back to Gensokyo."

>"Isn't that exactly what someone who was thrown into here for atrocities would say?" asks the red-cloaked woman.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"It might. But mightn't it also be exactly what someone who ended up here by accident would say, as well?"
>"Is there perhaps some gesture I could make to demonstrate my good faith?"

[Hello Purvis]

>"It might. But mightn't it also be exactly what someone who ended up here by accident would say, as well?"
>"Is there perhaps some gesture I could make to demonstrate my good faith?"

>"Like what?" she asks.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"I'm not certain; this is why I asked. You're more familiar with the lay of the land around here than I, both in a physical and metaphorical sense."
>"Although, does it matter which of these two alternatives are true, if my goal is simply to leave this realm? Are you concerned that I intend to cause problems while I'm here?"

[Hello Purvis]

>"I'm not certain; this is why I asked. You're more familiar with the lay of the land around here than I, both in a physical and metaphorical sense."
>"Although, does it matter which of these two alternatives are true, if my goal is simply to leave this realm? Are you concerned that I intend to cause problems while I'm here?"

>"No no, nothing of the sort," says the hooded woman. "Troublemakers belong here. That can be handled on its own. No no no. I'm much more concerned you're trying to shrug off your fealty. That would be inexcusable, don't you think?"

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"I would certainly never forgive myself for it. In fact, it is duty and concern that compel me to return as swiftly as possible. There are others in my charge who may be in grave danger in my absence. I was incapacitated in battle, and ended up here through means I do not fully understand. Regardless of what obstacles are placed in my path, I will return to them and accomplish what I have pledged to do. I could not even contemplate doing otherwise."

[Hello Purvis]

>"I would certainly never forgive myself for it. In fact, it is duty and concern that compel me to return as swiftly as possible. There are others in my charge who may be in grave danger in my absence. I was incapacitated in battle, and ended up here through means I do not fully understand. Regardless of what obstacles are placed in my path, I will return to them and accomplish what I have pledged to do. I could not even contemplate doing otherwise."

>"Very pretty words," she says, "But I think you misinterpret whom I mean fealty would be owed. Perhaps intentionally?"

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"Rather more likely unintentionally, I'm afraid. But I am listening."

[Hello Purvis]

>"Rather more likely unintentionally, I'm afraid. But I am listening."

>She shakes her head; you can see the hood move accordingly. "If it is as I suspect, and you're supposed to be here, then the only one you owe fealty to is Lady Shinki. And she does not tolerate her own leaving her realm at this time."

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"And is there any way for her to tell whether I'm supposed to be here or not? Clearly not everyone who enters this realm does so as a subject of it. I would not be the first."
>What do we know of past incidents involving Makai?

[Hello Purvis]

>"And is there any way for her to tell whether I'm supposed to be here or not? Clearly not everyone who enters this realm does so as a subject of it. I would not be the first."
>What do we know of past incidents involving Makai?

>"Quite. But Bhava-agrans never come here; especially those missing their raiments."
>...Where did she get that other sword?
>You're aware that the central city was devastated in an incident some years ago. As well, recently Byakuren escaped from here.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>Raiment? Does she mean our shawl?
>Assuming this seems likely: "I can actually demonstrate what became of my raiment, if you will permit me to do so."
>Produce the picture of the poltergeist, bound with our shawl, and show her

[Hello Purvis]

>Raiment? Does she mean our shawl?
>Assuming this seems likely: "I can actually demonstrate what became of my raiment, if you will permit me to do so."
>Produce the picture of the poltergeist, bound with our shawl, and show her

>You think so.
>You offer out the picture. The woman approaches. You can see that what you thought was a smock is actually an apron, worn over a red dress. You have sneaking suspicion now that this may well be Shinki's principal servant; essentially your counterpart in Makai and of similar standing to you in the Celestial Bureaucracy. This opens a whole new series of questions, if it is true.
>She considers this picture for a moment. "Hmm, it does seem to match your clothing. But now I wonder why you carry a portrait of such a thing with you? Are you into "that" kind of thing?"

>_

[DracoOmega]

>Do we know the name of this principal servant?
>"Her binding was of a more practical nature. She is a very dangerous poltergeist who I had just incapacitated in battle before this. I tied her to prevent her from escaping. The picture, incidentally, was to demonstrate her existence to another party. There is a major incident in progress on the surface today, and she is centrally involved in it. Unfortunately, when she regained consciousness, she was somehow able to cast me out of Gensokyo without moving from her bonds. Thus, here I am."

[Hello Purvis]

>Do we know the name of this principal servant?
>"Her binding was of a more practical nature. She is a very dangerous poltergeist who I had just incapacitated in battle before this. I tied her to prevent her from escaping. The picture, incidentally, was to demonstrate her existence to another party. There is a major incident in progress on the surface today, and she is centrally involved in it. Unfortunately, when she regained consciousness, she was somehow able to cast me out of Gensokyo without moving from her bonds. Thus, here I am."

>It eludes you at the moment. Starts with Y.
>She frowns. "Interesting story. But why would you have a painting of such a thing with you?"

>_

[DracoOmega]

>Run her name over in the back of our mind a little, while we keep talking
>"Painting? Are you not familiar with how a camera works?"
>Assuming not: "A camera is a device that lets you quickly capture images of objects. Here, let me demonstrate."
>Take a picture of the scenery, and show it to her. Don't actually point the camera at her, herself, though.

[Hello Purvis]

>Run her name over in the back of our mind a little, while we keep talking
>"Painting? Are you not familiar with how a camera works?"
>Assuming not: "A camera is a device that lets you quickly capture images of objects. Here, let me demonstrate."
>Take a picture of the scenery, and show it to her. Don't actually point the camera at her, herself, though.

>Yumi? Yuna? Yuni?
>"A what?"
>You demonstrate Aya's Camera, taking a picture of the countryside.
>You obtain: Picture of Makai Landscape with Goats
>"What a curious thing," says the red-cloaked woman, frowning at it.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>A little closer... c'mon...
>"So you see, no unusual effort was put into acquiring that image of the poltergeist. I won our fight, and I wanted a record to show others, so that they would know what she looked like. Particularly given how dangerous she has proven to be."

[Hello Purvis]

>A little closer... c'mon...
>"So you see, no unusual effort was put into acquiring that image of the poltergeist. I won our fight, and I wanted a record to show others, so that they would know what she looked like. Particularly given how dangerous she has proven to be."

>Yurika?
>She nods. "So it seems."

>_