Iku Quest P?t: A Z-Machine Adventure

[DracoOmega]

>No, no, that's not quite it, either...
>"And this is why am I here without my raiment. I would not be surprised if it were in pieces now, unfortunately. But that is a much lesser concern than that she would be free. I cannot overstate how important it is that I return."

[Suwako Moriya]

Probably won't come up again any time soon, but I was struck with inspiration for what to do with that favor. Something slightly more productive than a hug. Mostly leaving this here as a reminder to myself.

[Hello Purvis]

>No, no, that's not quite it, either...
>"And this is why am I here without my raiment. I would not be surprised if it were in pieces now, unfortunately. But that is a much lesser concern than that she would be free. I cannot overstate how important it is that I return."

>Yume...Yume...Oh, that's right. Yumeko.
>"I suppose your story makes a certain kind of sense," she says.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"I honestly wish I could tell you why I ended up in this realm. I wonder if it's possible there is some connection between the power the poltergeist wields and Makai itself?"
>If Yumeko's position as principle servant to Shinki gives her similar standing in the Celestial Bureaucracy to us, a principle servant of The Dragon, does that imply that The Dragon and Shinki also have similar stature?

[Hello Purvis]

>"I honestly wish I could tell you why I ended up in this realm. I wonder if it's possible there is some connection between the power the poltergeist wields and Makai itself?"
>If Yumeko's position as principle servant to Shinki gives her similar standing in the Celestial Bureaucracy to us, a principle servant of The Dragon, does that imply that The Dragon and Shinki also have similar stature?

>She  shakes her head. "I could tell you nothing."
>Not really. Shinki rules over a lower realm, and has significantly less of a role in the ordering of the universe. But in some respects, she is equal.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"Could you at least tell me how I might return to Gensokyo?"

[Hello Purvis]

>"Could you at least tell me how I might return to Gensokyo?"

>"I can," says Yumeko, "But whether you can or not is not in my hands. Go west, until you find the mountains. There will be a cave there. Be warned, it is guarded, and the guard is ordered not to let any pass. Only Lady Shinki herself may rescind that order."

[DracoOmega]

>Can we tell which way is West, from where we are?
>"Thank you. And do you think she would, were I to speak with her about this?"

[Hello Purvis]

>Can we tell which way is West, from where we are?
>"Thank you. And do you think she would, were I to speak with her about this?"

>You have no idea what the compass directions are here.
>Yumeko shakes her head. "She wouldn't hear of it, I assure you. Lady Shinki would consider it much more fun to let you try as things are."

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"Very well. I certainly do not intend to let it dissuade me, in either case."
>"Before I leave, in case there is some connection, I don't suppose you've heard of or noticed anything unusual in Makai lately? Possibly having to do with unusual shadows?"
>"Also... which way is west?"

[Hello Purvis]

>"Very well. I certainly do not intend to let it dissuade me, in either case."
>"Before I leave, in case there is some connection, I don't suppose you've heard of or noticed anything unusual in Makai lately? Possibly having to do with unusual shadows?"
>"Also... which way is west?"

>Yumeko shakes her head. "Nothing of that sort. It's been peaceful since Hokkai was breached."
>She points down the road. "Do be warned, a storm is coming. You may wish to stay the night at down, which is to the east."

>_

[DracoOmega]

>Nod
>"I am glad to hear that things are well, here."
>"What sort of storm?"
>"Actually... this may sound a strange question, but do you know what day or time it is? It is hard for me to judge, in this realm."

[Hello Purvis]

>Nod
>"I am glad to hear that things are well, here."
>"What sort of storm?"
>"Actually... this may sound a strange question, but do you know what day or time it is? It is hard for me to judge, in this realm."

>"The kind that rains and pours, of course," says Yumeko. "And it will be dark in a little while. Why do you think I came to fetch these goats?"

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"My apologies. I admit I had not given it much thought."
>"Thank you for your warning, but I must do what I can to make it back to Gensokyo as quickly as possible, storm or no."

[Hello Purvis]

>"My apologies. I admit I had not given it much thought."
>"Thank you for your warning, but I must do what I can to make it back to Gensokyo as quickly as possible, storm or no."

>A storm can't be that bad; it's not like you don't swim in storm clouds from time to time.
>"As you like," says Yumeko.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"I bid you good evening. And thanks again."
>Head West

[Hello Purvis]

>"I bid you good evening. And thanks again."
>Head West

>"Try not to end up here again; not everyone is as forgiving as I am," says Yumeko as you depart.
>You head westward. You quickly begin to notice the leafless trees grow thicker and more common, until you've found yourself in a forest. The sky grows darker; thankfully not much of a problem for you; and thunder rumbles again and again.
>Up ahead, you see several old logs seem to have fallen across the path.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>Float over the obstruction and continue onward

[Kilgamayan]

> Visually inspect logs as we pass.

[Hello Purvis]

>Float over the obstruction and continue onward

>You take to the air and start to float over the logs.
>"I wouldn't do that, if I were you," comes a voice from the right.

> Visually inspect logs as we pass.

>You got a glance at the logs before you were interrupted. They are pretty old and rotten, but they don't seem to have been there long.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>Look towards the source of the voice
>"And why not?"

[Hello Purvis]

>Look towards the source of the voice
>"And why not?"

>You look over, and see a faerie sitting in a tree branch. Her skin is chalky white, in contract to her dark blue hair. She smiles. "It could be any kind of trick, don't you think? Logs just being there like that? It's dangerous! You should think twice."
>She nods sagely.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>The logs do not appear to have simply fallen onto the path from nearby trees, do they?
>"And what would you recommend instead, then?"

[Hello Purvis]

>The logs do not appear to have simply fallen onto the path from nearby trees, do they?
>"And what would you recommend instead, then?"

>Having a look, you are quite certain they've not just fallen naturally.
>"Why, you spare some spades for your little friend, and I'll show you a safe way!"

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"I have no money to offer you, I'm afraid."

[Hello Purvis]

>"I have no money to offer you, I'm afraid."

>"Then maybe you should go get some before you worry about running around in the woods," says the faerie, frowning a little. "It's very dangerous if you're not prepared."

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"I'm afraid that I am also in a hurry. Danger or no, I fully intend to press forward. Unless you are willing to suggest some alternative not involving having or acquiring money?"

[Hello Purvis]

>"I'm afraid that I am also in a hurry. Danger or no, I fully intend to press forward. Unless you are willing to suggest some alternative not involving having or acquiring money?"

>She looks up toward the sky, laboriously pondering.
>"What do you have that can sell nice?" she asks.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>Take out 1 of our 2 photos of the shadowless tree (whichever we think is worse) and the photo of the Makai landscape, and show them to the fairy
>"Any interest in these? I gather that photos are a rare thing around these parts."

[Hello Purvis]

>Take out 1 of our 2 photos of the shadowless tree (whichever we think is worse) and the photo of the Makai landscape, and show them to the fairy
>"Any interest in these? I gather that photos are a rare thing around these parts."

>The faerie considers from from the distance. "Couldn't get many spades out of them," she says after a moment.

>_