Iku Quest Sechs - A Z-Machine Adventure

[DracoOmega]

>"Well, she started by protesting her innocence nearly the moment I poked my head in, and saying that her incarceration was a setup by the Yama. I don't know the details, but I admit I was skeptical of this, and not entirely inclined to take her word for it, given the circumstances. Then we discussed the issue of the camera, and she showed me how to use it. There was some discussion of... art, as she puts it, and her rather forceful opinions of what do and do not constitute it. As well as threats of what she'd do to me if I ever damaged this. Then we left."

[Hello Purvis]

>"Well, she started by protesting her innocence nearly the moment I poked my head in, and saying that her incarceration was a setup by the Yama. I don't know the details, but I admit I was skeptical of this, and not entirely inclined to take her word for it, given the circumstances. Then we discussed the issue of the camera, and she showed me how to use it. There was some discussion of... art, as she puts it, and her rather forceful opinions of what do and do not constitute it. As well as threats of what she'd do to me if I ever damaged this. Then we left."

>Momiji nods. "Yes, Aya is quite vocal about artistic merit. Blame Kakashi Spirit News for that. She was always very much into her work, but that really pushed her perfect it and consider it a virtue. Did anything unusual happen while you were there?"

>_

[Suwako Moriya]

> Oh for the love of.

[Hello Purvis]

> Oh for the love of.

>Stupid procedural questions. Of course they were going to be interested in unusual things if there was an unexplained escape...

>_

[DracoOmega]

>Yeah, you could say that...
>"Well, I'm not sure if this is unusual for Aya or not, but... she did ask me to attempt to take a... surreptitious photo of her, with her camera, at some point when she was not expecting it. And, that I'd need to wait until she was out of jail for this."

[Hello Purvis]

>Yeah, you could say that...
>"Well, I'm not sure if this is unusual for Aya or not, but... she did ask me to attempt to take a... surreptitious photo of her, with her camera, at some point when she was not expecting it. And, that I'd need to wait until she was out of jail for this."

>"Oh, really?" says Momiji. "Huh, she must have a lot of faith in your abilities; the only other person she ever asked was me. Was there anything else of note?"

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"I'm not sure why she would have such faith, given that I had never used a camera before today. But I guess she's not one to pass up what she sees as an opportunity when presented with one. But no, I don't think she said anything else that struck me as unusual."

[Hello Purvis]

>"I'm not sure why she would have such faith, given that I had never used a camera before today. But I guess she's not one to pass up what she sees as an opportunity when presented with one. But no, I don't think she said anything else that struck me as unusual."

>Momiji nods. "Did anything else unusual happen, I mean?"

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Um..."
> Rub our hand on our forehead a few times, then drag it down our face.
> Sigh.
> "...there was. But...I really didn't want to mention this, because..."
> Stare directly at Momizi.
> "Can you come here for a moment? I'd...rather not say this out loud, and I think your judgment would be better than mine concerning what to do with it."

[Hello Purvis]

> "Um..."
> Rub our hand on our forehead a few times, then drag it down our face.
> Sigh.
> "...there was. But...I really didn't want to mention this, because..."
> Stare directly at Momizi.
> "Can you come here for a moment? I'd...rather not say this out loud, and I think your judgment would be better than mine concerning what to do with it."

>You feel some embarrassment, and ask Momiji to come closer.
>She does so, frowning a bit, while Tenshi giggles.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Put our mouth right next to Momizi's ear and cup the back of her ear with our hand.
> Lower voice to a whisper.
> "She stripped naked."
> Step back with a sad frown on our face.

[Hello Purvis]

> Put our mouth right next to Momizi's ear and cup the back of her ear with our hand.
> Lower voice to a whisper.
> "She stripped naked."
> Step back with a sad frown on our face.

>You whisper to Momiji. She jerks back; the aerial equivalent of a surprised backstep, and gives you a look. "What? You're serious? Was she drunk out of her mind or something!?"
>Tenshi cackles.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "I would hazard a guess she thought it would entice me into letting her out."
> Frown a bit harder.
> "The whole situation was quite uncomfortable, though."

[Hello Purvis]

> "I would hazard a guess she thought it would entice me into letting her out."
> Frown a bit harder.
> "The whole situation was quite uncomfortable, though."

>"That...doesn't sound like Aya at all," says Momiji.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Shrug.
> "I have to admit, hers are not a mind's workings I have spent much time contemplating. What happened happened, though."

[Hello Purvis]

> Shrug.
> "I have to admit, hers are not a mind's workings I have spent much time contemplating. What happened happened, though."

>"Was there anything else unusual?" Momiji asks.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Well, I think there being no other tengu in sight would qualify as unusual."

[Hello Purvis]

> "Well, I think there being no other tengu in sight would qualify as unusual."

>"Perhaps," says Momiji, "It was unfortunately necessary. Did Aya say anything of note? Or ask you to do anything?"

[Kilgamayan]

> "Nothing beyond what you would expect given the situation. Asking if I'd let her out, making sure I'd return her camera eventually. That sort of thing."

[Hello Purvis]

> "Nothing beyond what you would expect given the situation. Asking if I'd let her out, making sure I'd return her camera eventually. That sort of thing."

>"Why did she give it to you, anyways?" asks Momiji. "You'd think she'd want to lend her other one..."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "She did, but her backup camera was somewhere else, and my situation was rather time-sensitive. And, well, to be honest, it still is, but I can understand your need to attend to this first."

[Hello Purvis]

> "She did, but her backup camera was somewhere else, and my situation was rather time-sensitive. And, well, to be honest, it still is, but I can understand your need to attend to this first."

>"Mmm, that's a shame," says Momiji. "I would rather like for you to tell some of these things to Lord Tenma personally. I'd rather suspect he'd have a few questions about Aya's...behavior on his own."

[Kilgamayan]

> Frown.
> "Mmm. And perhaps he can explain to me why the tengu patrols are letting suspect individuals make their way up this mountain, past tengu territory?"

[Hello Purvis]

> Frown.
> "Mmm. And perhaps he can explain to me why the tengu patrols are letting suspect individuals make their way up this mountain, past tengu territory?"

>"Excuse me?" says Momiji, her voice significantly less friendly and more neutral than it was a moment ago.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "I have testimony from Suika Ibuki that she had a visitor on Guest Island a few days ago. A white-haired poltergeist in a blue shirt with a brocade collar. In doing some of my own research into this poltergeist, I have not only discovered that she is the one responsible for Bhava-Agra's current state, but that she found her way to Bhava-Agra in the first place by climbing this mountain, slipping past the tengu patrols in the process. I also have very strong reason to believe that she would not have been able to bring Bhava-Agra down from the sky had she not been able to find her way there in the first place. My own personal experience with this poltergeist is that she is very dangerous and very determined, and she is still on the loose somewhere. She is responsible for the incapacitation of other individuals, including the teal-haired karakasa, whom I believe can be found right now at the home of the two girls from the outside world, if you wish to investigate into the matter for yourself."
> "Now, I don't know how she slipped past patrols. It is possible she managed to hide from them very well - I have very strong reason to believe she has spent time on this mountain in an unknown cave. It is also possible she was spotted, but managed to incapacitate any patrols that found her. Whatever the reason, she made it up the mountain past the tengu territory and was able to find Bhava-Agra, thereby enabling her to do to it what you saw for yourself yesterday."
> "Granted, the tengu are not directly tasked with guarding Bhava-Agra. Surface access originates on this mountain, past the area that is under their patrol, but still, it would be a bit heavy-handed to place the blame for Bhava-Agra's fall on whatever patrols failed to spot her."
> Shrug.
> "Of course, I think it would be similarly heavy-handed to place blame on someone due to an unfortunate coincidence."

[Hello Purvis]

> "I have testimony from Suika Ibuki that she had a visitor on Guest Island a few days ago. A white-haired poltergeist in a blue shirt with a brocade collar. In doing some of my own research into this poltergeist, I have not only discovered that she is the one responsible for Bhava-Agra's current state, but that she found her way to Bhava-Agra in the first place by climbing this mountain, slipping past the tengu patrols in the process. I also have very strong reason to believe that she would not have been able to bring Bhava-Agra down from the sky had she not been able to find her way there in the first place. My own personal experience with this poltergeist is that she is very dangerous and very determined, and she is still on the loose somewhere. She is responsible for the incapacitation of other individuals, including the teal-haired karakasa, whom I believe can be found right now at the home of the two girls from the outside world, if you wish to investigate into the matter for yourself."
> "Now, I don't know how she slipped past patrols. It is possible she managed to hide from them very well - I have very strong reason to believe she has spent time on this mountain in an unknown cave. It is also possible she was spotted, but managed to incapacitate any patrols that found her. Whatever the reason, she made it up the mountain past the tengu territory and was able to find Bhava-Agra, thereby enabling her to do to it what you saw for yourself yesterday."
> "Granted, the tengu are not directly tasked with guarding Bhava-Agra. Surface access originates on this mountain, past the area that is under their patrol, but still, it would be a bit heavy-handed to place the blame for Bhava-Agra's fall on whatever patrols failed to spot her."
> Shrug.
> "Of course, I think it would be similarly heavy-handed to place blame on someone due to an unfortunate coincidence."

>"There have been no reports of any such skirmishes," says Momiji, "Can you tell me when this would have been? In fact, don't bother. It would be much better that you tell Lord Tenma himself of this."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Put a hand on side of our forehead and rub a little bit.
> "You are putting me in a very tough position, Miss Inubashiri. I certainly do sympathize with the tough situation you yourself are in, being forced to hunt down your friend, but time is of the essence here. I have photographic evidence on my person that this poltergeist exists, as well as evidence of what she can do. There is testimony that she managed to make it to Bhava-Agra - all you have to do is ask Suika, and even if you don't trust me, you know she will not lie to you. There is evidence of what this poltergeist can do to other people in the teal-haired karakasa, and quite possibly others. Not to monger fear, but I would suggest making sure all patrol heads are accounted for. For the sake of The August One, I need to find this girl before she causes the further, greater harm to Gensokyo she has threatened, and, with all due respect to Lord Tenma, I cannot do this while I am being brought forward to him and forced to answer the same questions that I have just covered with you."

[Hello Purvis]

> Put a hand on side of our forehead and rub a little bit.
> "You are putting me in a very tough position, Miss Inubashiri. I certainly do sympathize with the tough situation you yourself are in, being forced to hunt down your friend, but time is of the essence here. I have photographic evidence on my person that this poltergeist exists, as well as evidence of what she can do. There is testimony that she managed to make it to Bhava-Agra - all you have to do is ask Suika, and even if you don't trust me, you know she will not lie to you. There is evidence of what this poltergeist can do to other people in the teal-haired karakasa, and quite possibly others. Not to monger fear, but I would suggest making sure all patrol heads are accounted for. For the sake of The August One, I need to find this girl before she causes the further, greater harm to Gensokyo she has threatened, and, with all due respect to Lord Tenma, I cannot do this while I am being brought forward to him and forced to answer the same questions that I have just covered with you."

>"Perhaps if you tell me where this poltergeist is," says Momiji, "I may be able to arrange for someone to apprehend her? I'm afraid I can't just let you go after saying such things."

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"If I knew where she was, I would be there myself, now. I came here to see if I could find the cave she took shelter in the other day, and see if there were any clues there to her current whereabouts."
>"I apprehended her myself, yesterday, but she escaped. She has the ability to consume people in her shadow, and she threw me into Makai, while still herself bound. By the time I could return, she was long gone. I have not seen her since."

[Hello Purvis]

>"If I knew where she was, I would be there myself, now. I came here to see if I could find the cave she took shelter in the other day, and see if there were any clues there to her current whereabouts."
>"I apprehended her myself, yesterday, but she escaped. She has the ability to consume people in her shadow, and she threw me into Makai, while still herself bound. By the time I could return, she was long gone. I have not seen her since."

>"We've been searching caves all morning," says Momiji. "What are you hoping to find, exactly?"

>_