Iku Quest Sechs - A Z-Machine Adventure

[Suwako Moriya]

> "It should also be noted that, if I come back and you're still here, it may be best for us to get on the move, so we can start gathering people together. It's a shame we'll be without whoever has already gone to bed, but, at least in Yuugi's case, she should be more or less safe underground. Outside of Nitori and Kogasa, the only other person the poltergeist knows I associate with is Tenshi, but she may know where Nitori lives, and the poltergeist does know I associate with other people, so that could be bad for anyone standing guard here alone. I am very seriously considering us taking Nitori from her and flying her to Renko and Maribel's house, where I believe Kogasa is stationed, as I don't believe the poltergeist is aware of any connection of ours to that house, and going there will get more of us in a group. I think, between the two of us, that we can probably manage to get Nitori off the ground as necessary."
> "While I'm out, use your best discretion when greeting any visitors. Better safe than sorry."

[Hello Purvis]

>"Tell the others, when you see them. Both the good and bad news. And make sure to emphasize how dangerous she is. Even if she looks incapacitated, she may still be able to imprison you at will. I don't know how she did it, or how it can be prevented. I wouldn't count on being able to get out again on your own; I'm not even sure how I did."
>"I'm going to go to Guest Island. I've heard that Suika's still there, and I need to speak with her."
>"If Tenshi, or anyone else I mentioned drops by the meantime, tell them where I've gone. I'll return when I'm finished, just to let you know if I've found out anything more. If you think I've been gone too long, well... you know where I've gone. Use your own discretion. But these are times where people involved need to stick together, I think. It may be dangerous to be alone, if she's on the move."

>"I'll be here," says Utsuho.

>_

[Suwako Moriya]

> ;_;
> "It should also be noted that, if I come back and you're still here, it may be best for us to get on the move, so we can start gathering people together. It's a shame we'll be without whoever has already gone to bed, but, at least in Yuugi's case, she should be more or less safe underground. Outside of Nitori and Kogasa, the only other person the poltergeist knows I associate with is Tenshi, but she may know where Nitori lives, and the poltergeist does know I associate with other people, so that could be bad for anyone standing guard here alone. I am very seriously considering us taking Nitori from her and flying her to Renko and Maribel's house, where I believe Kogasa is stationed, as I don't believe the poltergeist is aware of any connection of ours to that house, and going there will get more of us in a group. I think, between the two of us, that we can probably manage to get Nitori off the ground as necessary."
> "While I'm out, use your best discretion when greeting any visitors. Better safe than sorry."

[Hello Purvis]

> ;_;
> "It should also be noted that, if I come back and you're still here, it may be best for us to get on the move, so we can start gathering people together. It's a shame we'll be without whoever has already gone to bed, but, at least in Yuugi's case, she should be more or less safe underground. Outside of Nitori and Kogasa, the only other person the poltergeist knows I associate with is Tenshi, but she may know where Nitori lives, and the poltergeist does know I associate with other people, so that could be bad for anyone standing guard here alone. I am very seriously considering us taking Nitori from her and flying her to Renko and Maribel's house, where I believe Kogasa is stationed, as I don't believe the poltergeist is aware of any connection of ours to that house, and going there will get more of us in a group. I think, between the two of us, that we can probably manage to get Nitori off the ground as necessary."
> "While I'm out, use your best discretion when greeting any visitors. Better safe than sorry."

>Don't gimme that.
>"Alright," says Utsuho, "But, um, you don't look like you're in any shape to be dealing with the poltergeist. So how about this, if Parsee gets back first we'll just go to Maribel's, okay? I'll leave a note on the door."

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"Ok, that sounds good. And... you're probably right. I'm sure I would have collapsed already, if I felt I could rest in good conscience while this danger is about. But there's still work to be done before I can let myself. Maybe when the others are gathered... Hopefully, nothing else will go wrong before we see each other again."
>Fly off to Guest Island

[Hello Purvis]

>"Ok, that sounds good. And... you're probably right. I'm sure I would have collapsed already, if I felt I could rest in good conscience while this danger is about. But there's still work to be done before I can let myself. Maybe when the others are gathered... Hopefully, nothing else will go wrong before we see each other again."
>Fly off to Guest Island

>"Good luck," says Utsuho, as you depart.
>You make your way toward Guest Island. As you do, you notice there are a few Tengu patrols out. A couple draw fairly close to you, but them seem content to leave you alone. As you draw close to the Island itself, you hear the familair voice of the oni shout, "Slog off! I said I ain't leaving!"

>_

[DracoOmega]

>Continue approach
>"I'm not here to try and drive you off, Suika. I just want to talk to you."

[Hello Purvis]

>Continue approach
>"I'm not here to try and drive you off, Suika. I just want to talk to you."

>"Oh," she calls, "Well, that's alright then. You bring anything to drink?"

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "I'm pretty wet from the rain in Makai. Does that count?"

[DracoOmega]

>There are peach trees around, correct?
>Do we know if Suika's typically laid claim to these, too? Or are they fair game?

[Hello Purvis]

> "I'm pretty wet from the rain in Makai. Does that count?"

>"Naw, no one wants to drink that," Suika calls.

>There are peach trees around, correct?
>Do we know if Suika's typically laid claim to these, too? Or are they fair game?

>There are peach trees. Suika has claimed them, but she doesn't seem to mind if others use them.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>Gesture to the peach trees
>"You don't mind if I have a few, do you? I've had a worse day than I care to contemplate, and virtually nothing to eat the whole while."
>If she gives permission, grab one and dig in

>"Why have they been trying to drive you off, anyway?"
>"I guess you were on the island when it fell?"

[Hello Purvis]

>Gesture to the peach trees
>"You don't mind if I have a few, do you? I've had a worse day than I care to contemplate, and virtually nothing to eat the whole while."
>If she gives permission, grab one and dig in

>"Why have they been trying to drive you off, anyway?"
>"I guess you were on the island when it fell?"

>"Sure, knock yourself out," says Suika as you draw close to the island. You can see the short oni standing near the edge, looking the same as always.
>You find the trees are pretty bare, but there are a couple peaches still hanging there. You grab one and dig in! It is heavenly; you can't recall ever having a better peach. You could write a poem about it if you were so inclined.
>"Eh, tengu being tengu," says Suika. "Funny how they forget it's still technically our mountain. We just let 'em have it, like. And yeah, I was here when it went down. When're you lot gonna deal with that, anyhow?"

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"I've been spending the whole day trying to deal with it, actually. Got thrown into Makai, dealing with it. Nearly had something very close to my soul torn out of me, trying to deal with it. To say nothing of the multitude of people who have shot, grappled, thrown, or battered me."
>"...sorry."
>"This is a very long story, but I'll try to be as brief as I can on the important points. The islands fell because something has stolen part of their shadow. It's too dark to see now, but during the day it was clear that the shadows were significantly fainter than they ought to be. This is not an isolated problem, either. People have had their shadows stolen from them, too. In their case, it's left them nearly dead to the world."
>"I eventually manage to track down the person responsible for all this. Before she cast me down into Makai and escaped, at any rate. I came to speak with you because you've actually shared a drink with her, and are nearly the only person I know to have survived actual contact with her."
>Show Suika the photo of the spectre

[Hello Purvis]

>"I've been spending the whole day trying to deal with it, actually. Got thrown into Makai, dealing with it. Nearly had something very close to my soul torn out of me, trying to deal with it. To say nothing of the multitude of people who have shot, grappled, thrown, or battered me."
>"...sorry."
>"This is a very long story, but I'll try to be as brief as I can on the important points. The islands fell because something has stolen part of their shadow. It's too dark to see now, but during the day it was clear that the shadows were significantly fainter than they ought to be. This is not an isolated problem, either. People have had their shadows stolen from them, too. In their case, it's left them nearly dead to the world."
>"I eventually manage to track down the person responsible for all this. Before she cast me down into Makai and escaped, at any rate. I came to speak with you because you've actually shared a drink with her, and are nearly the only person I know to have survived actual contact with her."
>Show Suika the photo of the spectre

>Suika listens; or at least you hope she is. She doesn't seem too perturbed by your outburst, at least. You then show her the picture. She frowns at it for a moment, then says, "Oh, right, the shy girl! Not a bad sort, but not much fun to drink with."

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"How'd you end up meeting her?"
>"Did she talk about anything, while you were together?"
>"And when was this, anyway?"

[Hello Purvis]

>"How'd you end up meeting her?"
>"Did she talk about anything, while you were together?"
>"And when was this, anyway?"

>Suika scratches her head. "Heh, that's a lot of questions. Let's see, uh...think it was two days ago I saw her? Yeah. She we just sorta looking around the island, like, so I called her over to have a drink. Didn't say a whole lot, really, so I just talked about things."

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"And she just sat quietly and listened?"
>"I don't suppose you ever asked her who she was? Or what she was doing here?"

>When we finish off our peach grab another. For that matter, just keep on going. Can't run on empty forever.

[Hello Purvis]

>"And she just sat quietly and listened?"
>"I don't suppose you ever asked her who she was? Or what she was doing here?"

>When we finish off our peach grab another. For that matter, just keep on going. Can't run on empty forever.

>The oni nods. "Yeah, she was one of those listener types. Don't think she could hold her sake very well either. Speaking of, you here to get away from the job? I've got more than enough for you."
>"Naw, didn't ask her nothing like that. No need to worry about that with a good drinking partner, like. Figured she just came up for a visit."
>You dig into another peach, having devoured the last one with rather embarrassing speed.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"No, I'm afraid I'm here on business. As much as I could use a break at the moment, there's still too many things going on."
>"And it's probably a good thing you never asked her any of that. So far, everyone I know of who has, has been attacked by her; most of them with extremely serious consequences. It might surprise you, given your experience with her, but she is a paranoid, violent, and extremely dangerous person. Even for you."
>"Did she say anything at all, that you can remember? That might be of even the most tangential interest?"

[Hello Purvis]

>"No, I'm afraid I'm here on business. As much as I could use a break at the moment, there's still too many things going on."
>"And it's probably a good thing you never asked her any of that. So far, everyone I know of who has, has been attacked by her; most of them with extremely serious consequences. It might surprise you, given your experience with her, but she is a paranoid, violent, and extremely dangerous person. Even for you."
>"Did she say anything at all, that you can remember? That might be of even the most tangential interest?"

>"Ah fine," says Suika, shrugging. "Be that way."
>"Naw, you're thinking of some other woman," says Suika, "She wasn't anything like that."
>Suika ponders for a moment, as she starts to wander deeper into the forest. "Yeah," she says, "Think she mentioned something about people being after her."

>_

[DracoOmega]

>Follow along
>"Oh? Did she say who they were? Or why they were after her?"

[Hello Purvis]

>Follow along
>"Oh? Did she say who they were? Or why they were after her?"

>You follow, as she leads you deeper into the island. You note quite a few fallen and ruined peaches here, too.
>"Just said she had some people after her, like," says Suika. "Figured maybe Reimu or someone else was getting too eager in the youkai hunting."

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"No, that wouldn't be Reimu's doing. Ironically, I don't believe any of the people searching for her meant her any harm. At least none that I know of. But I suspect she wouldn't believe this if  anyone tried to tell her. Certainly not if it came out of my mouth, after what she's already tried to do to me today."

[Hello Purvis]

>"No, that wouldn't be Reimu's doing. Ironically, I don't believe any of the people searching for her meant her any harm. At least none that I know of. But I suspect she wouldn't believe this if  anyone tried to tell her. Certainly not if it came out of my mouth, after what she's already tried to do to me today."

>"Even if it's you saying it," says Suika, "You gotta be thinking of someone else."

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"I fought her myself, this afternoon. I took the photo. That's my shawl she's bound with, if you notice."
>Show the photo again
>"That IS the same poltergeist you remember, isn't it?"
>"She attacked me nearly as soon as I tried to speak with her. She nearly tore my shadow away with her own hands. Trust me when I say this is something you never want to experience yourself."

[Hello Purvis]

>"I fought her myself, this afternoon. I took the photo. That's my shawl she's bound with, if you notice."
>Show the photo again
>"That IS the same poltergeist you remember, isn't it?"
>"She attacked me nearly as soon as I tried to speak with her. She nearly tore my shadow away with her own hands. Trust me when I say this is something you never want to experience yourself."

>Suika stops and squints at the picture again. "Yeah, I'd know that coat everywhere. S'her alright. I guess if you're saying all that, like, it must be true."
>She shrugs.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"The difference between our experiences does surprise me, though. I wonder if the only reason was because I said that I was curious if she knew something about a mystery. She kept yelling about how I 'knew too much' and had to be silenced. But I still wonder if there's something more to it. Or, I would like to hope there is."
>"As best I knew, she was extremely reclusive, hiding in the Forest of Magic, and pretty much trying to avoid everyone. I'd like to figure out why she came all the way out here herself. Or why she wanted to steal Bhava-Agra's shadow in the first place."
>"I don't suppose you've noticed anything unusual around the island today? Aside from the whole falling bit."

[Hello Purvis]

>"The difference between our experiences does surprise me, though. I wonder if the only reason was because I said that I was curious if she knew something about a mystery. She kept yelling about how I 'knew too much' and had to be silenced. But I still wonder if there's something more to it. Or, I would like to hope there is."
>"As best I knew, she was extremely reclusive, hiding in the Forest of Magic, and pretty much trying to avoid everyone. I'd like to figure out why she came all the way out here herself. Or why she wanted to steal Bhava-Agra's shadow in the first place."
>"I don't suppose you've noticed anything unusual around the island today? Aside from the whole falling bit."

>"Might do," says Suika. "Well, it wouldn't be the first time someone got to curious, like, and caused trouble."
>She shakes her head. "Nah, just the falling bit, and most of the fruit going splat."
>You come to a small clearing. The amount of trampling on the grass suggests that it sees a lot of traffic. There is a blanket set up by a tree; Suika flops down onto it.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "If I may ask, on what terms did you two part?"