Iku Quest Otto - A Z-Machine Adventure

[Kilgamayan]

> "Yes, that was substantially less helpful than I would have hoped. It did tell me one important thing, though, that I believe I can share with you. Of course, even if it becomes public knowledge later, you must promise to keep it a secret that I specifically told you this, but I trust you are capable of such a thing."

[Hello Purvis]

> "Yes, that was substantially less helpful than I would have hoped. It did tell me one important thing, though, that I believe I can share with you. Of course, even if it becomes public knowledge later, you must promise to keep it a secret that I specifically told you this, but I trust you are capable of such a thing."

>"Sure, okay," says Tenshi.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Lunasa said the Yama told them that they would disappear because they were missing something. I strongly suspect the Yama would know about that sort of thing, so I'm willing to take that at face value. This seems to match up with some of the things our shadowy friend told me. Given the nature of how poltergeists come to be, if that is combined with these corroborating stories, I think is it reasonable to conclude that it holds true for any poltergeist. The thing is that what our shadowy friend told me were her own life experiences, not what she knew of how poltergeist biology works. I do not think she knows that poltergeists in general run the risk of disappearing if they are missing that 'something'."

[Hello Purvis]

> "Lunasa said the Yama told them that they would disappear because they were missing something. I strongly suspect the Yama would know about that sort of thing, so I'm willing to take that at face value. This seems to match up with some of the things our shadowy friend told me. Given the nature of how poltergeists come to be, if that is combined with these corroborating stories, I think is it reasonable to conclude that it holds true for any poltergeist. The thing is that what our shadowy friend told me were her own life experiences, not what she knew of how poltergeist biology works. I do not think she knows that poltergeists in general run the risk of disappearing if they are missing that 'something'."

>Tenshi nods. "Yeah, I guess. I mean, it's not like anyone knows what most of their insides and stuff do."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Exactly. Now, the kicker is figuring out what that 'something' is. The PrismRivers obviously don't need to know what it is, because whatever it is, they've unknowingly found it. But they're substantially different from our shadowy friend. They're quite outgoing and social and have obvious hobbies and wandering tendencies and are all pretty much normal people, if a little bit air-headed. But what of our shadowy friend? You have seen and heard for yourself how much she values her privacy and seclusion, how much she hates to be anywhere but the forest, and what lengths she will go to in order to make sure her comfort zone is not interfered with. She has very likely not had someone tell her that poltergeists will disappear if they are missing this nebulous 'something'. She has no real social connections at all, beyond what I have provided, and what I have provided her is very, very loose and rather unreliable. With basically no substantial help from other people and no desire to leave her forest unless absolutely necessary, how likely do you think it is that she will find that 'something'?"

[Hello Purvis]

> "Exactly. Now, the kicker is figuring out what that 'something' is. The PrismRivers obviously don't need to know what it is, because whatever it is, they've unknowingly found it. But they're substantially different from our shadowy friend. They're quite outgoing and social and have obvious hobbies and wandering tendencies and are all pretty much normal people, if a little bit air-headed. But what of our shadowy friend? You have seen and heard for yourself how much she values her privacy and seclusion, how much she hates to be anywhere but the forest, and what lengths she will go to in order to make sure her comfort zone is not interfered with. She has very likely not had someone tell her that poltergeists will disappear if they are missing this nebulous 'something'. She has no real social connections at all, beyond what I have provided, and what I have provided her is very, very loose and rather unreliable. With basically no substantial help from other people and no desire to leave her forest unless absolutely necessary, how likely do you think it is that she will find that 'something'?"

>"Sounds like it's pretty much not going to happen," says Tenshi.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Pretty much. Her isolationism may very well be her downfall. And if she does disappear, who knows what will happen to those shadows she possesses? Nitori and Kogasa may be stuck as they are forever, not to mention our home, for however much you still care about it."

[Hello Purvis]

> "Pretty much. Her isolationism may very well be her downfall. And if she does disappear, who knows what will happen to those shadows she possesses? Nitori and Kogasa may be stuck as they are forever, not to mention our home, for however much you still care about it."

>"Well, the first part's bad enough," says Tenshi.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "So multiple lives and many more livelihoods are at stake in all this. Not to mention anyone else she would manage to get her hands on before her time is up. I have hope that whatever this 'something' is will be enough to convince her to return the shadows she has taken, and for everyone to live their lives out peaceably in the future with no fear of having their shadow stolen or of disappearing without warning."

[Hello Purvis]

> "So multiple lives and many more livelihoods are at stake in all this. Not to mention anyone else she would manage to get her hands on before her time is up. I have hope that whatever this 'something' is will be enough to convince her to return the shadows she has taken, and for everyone to live their lives out peaceably in the future with no fear of having their shadow stolen or of disappearing without warning."

>"It'd have to be something pretty big," she says. "So, um, how're we going to find out?"

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "I have some speculations, and I am sure our shadowy friend will have some of her own once she learns of this nature of poltergeists, but I am hoping Kanako will know for sure, or at least know enough to enable me to connect the dots on my own. If she does not, and I cannot come up with something..."
> Sigh.
> "...I may have to seek out the Yama and ask her."

[Hello Purvis]

> "I have some speculations, and I am sure our shadowy friend will have some of her own once she learns of this nature of poltergeists, but I am hoping Kanako will know for sure, or at least know enough to enable me to connect the dots on my own. If she does not, and I cannot come up with something..."
> Sigh.
> "...I may have to seek out the Yama and ask her."

>"Oh wow, you like to live dangerously, don't you?" says Tenshi.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "I haven't liked a good deal of what I've had to do in the past day and a half. I really do not like the prospect of facing the Yama when she will almost certainly know I released Aya from jail. But what I would like and not like to do is super-ceded by what I feel is the right thing to do. If I need to get an earful or two for my sins to further the overall cause...then it will be what it will be."

[Hello Purvis]

> "I haven't liked a good deal of what I've had to do in the past day and a half. I really do not like the prospect of facing the Yama when she will almost certainly know I released Aya from jail. But what I would like and not like to do is super-ceded by what I feel is the right thing to do. If I need to get an earful or two for my sins to further the overall cause...then it will be what it will be."

>Tenshi nods. "We can take her."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Nod and smile.
> "Yeah. We can. And that leads into the most important thing I have to say, before we get to Kanako."
> Quickly look around the skies, as well as the surrounding area. Check to see if anyone is in the vicinity.

[Hello Purvis]

> Nod and smile.
> "Yeah. We can. And that leads into the most important thing I have to say, before we get to Kanako."
> Quickly look around the skies, as well as the surrounding area. Check to see if anyone is in the vicinity.

>You look around. You think you see a tengu patrol way in the distance, but they are quite far off.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Turn back to Tenshi. Keep that smile up.
> "This past day and a half...it's been really hard. There's no denying it. It has been hard for both of us, and the immediate future is extremely uncertain, which is no better. I've forced myself to make some very tough decisions, and I'm sure you have as well. Especially since we've both known all along that my ultimate goal has been to restore our home to where it belongs, and we've both known that our home and everything around it disgusts you. I...cannot pretend to truly know what you've felt, from me, from our people, for however long you have felt it. All I can do is apologize, from the bottom of my heart, for whenever and however I have wronged you."
> "Because, even in these times, in these circumstances, some of which I was completely oblivious to...despite all I have done to you, despite my inability to tell you more than I have, despite my constant requests that you trust me without necessarily explaining why you should, despite what we may be facing, and despite how much you resent our home and delight in the humbling it has gone through...you have still stuck with me through everything. There is no question that I would not be here without your support. Without your companionship. Without you simply being yourself. I...I cannot thank you enough for this."

[Hello Purvis]

> Turn back to Tenshi. Keep that smile up.
> "This past day and a half...it's been really hard. There's no denying it. It has been hard for both of us, and the immediate future is extremely uncertain, which is no better. I've forced myself to make some very tough decisions, and I'm sure you have as well. Especially since we've both known all along that my ultimate goal has been to restore our home to where it belongs, and we've both known that our home and everything around it disgusts you. I...cannot pretend to truly know what you've felt, from me, from our people, for however long you have felt it. All I can do is apologize, from the bottom of my heart, for whenever and however I have wronged you."
> "Because, even in these times, in these circumstances, some of which I was completely oblivious to...despite all I have done to you, despite my inability to tell you more than I have, despite my constant requests that you trust me without necessarily explaining why you should, despite what we may be facing, and despite how much you resent our home and delight in the humbling it has gone through...you have still stuck with me through everything. There is no question that I would not be here without your support. Without your companionship. Without you simply being yourself. I...I cannot thank you enough for this."

>Tenshi frowns. "Geez, you don't have to say it like that."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "But it is what it is, at least from what I have seen, and what you have told me. I have asked so much of you, and you have asked nothing of me, beyond a desire to keep private things private. I really, truly appreciate what you have done for me and what you have been willing to do for me through all this. Thank you so much, Tenshi."

[Hello Purvis]

> "But it is what it is, at least from what I have seen, and what you have told me. I have asked so much of you, and you have asked nothing of me, beyond a desire to keep private things private. I really, truly appreciate what you have done for me and what you have been willing to do for me through all this. Thank you so much, Tenshi."

>"I was just kinda looking for a good fight, is all," says Tenshi, frowning a bit. "I didn't do much special."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> How is her facial expression reading?
> "You have helped give our people a second chance at a passable peach harvest. You have enabled me to press on through hardship, secure in the knowledge that you're there beside me. You have made me a better person, and very likely saved me from a shadowy fate. If not for you, it is a very real possibility I would not be here right now at all, let alone with the newfound knowledge and feelings I possess. I would hardly say all of that is nothing special."

[Hello Purvis]

> How is her facial expression reading?
> "You have helped give our people a second chance at a passable peach harvest. You have enabled me to press on through hardship, secure in the knowledge that you're there beside me. You have made me a better person, and very likely saved me from a shadowy fate. If not for you, it is a very real possibility I would not be here right now at all, let alone with the newfound knowledge and feelings I possess. I would hardly say all of that is nothing special."

>A little disconcerted.
>"Maybe," she says.

>_

[Suwako Moriya]

>"I tell you truly, you have been an invaluable support for me. Physically, mentally, emotionally...you may not think you've done anything special, but you've been beyond special to me."
>Look right into her eyes.
>"Tenshi, I appreciate you, and I thank you."

[Hello Purvis]

>"I tell you truly, you have been an invaluable support for me. Physically, mentally, emotionally...you may not think you've done anything special, but you've been beyond special to me."
>Look right into her eyes.
>"Tenshi, I appreciate you, and I thank you."

>"Now you're just trying to embarrass me by saying I did things that I didn't do," says Tenshi, frowning.

>_

[Suwako Moriya]

>"And who is here for me to embarass you in front of?"

[Hello Purvis]

>"And who is here for me to embarass you in front of?"

>"Me!" she says. "You're doing what they do, now. Saying all sorts of nice-sounding but fake things because they're nice sounding."

>_

[Suwako Moriya]

"You really think I am merely spouting niceties then, hmm? You have supported me physically by countering the poltergeist's aggression against me this morning. You have supported me mentally by offering your support in the face of the great challenge the Yama presents. You have supported me emotionally by giving me someone worth fighting for when I faced the poltergeist's onslaught yesterday, and by trusting me when so many of Gensokyo's residents do not."

[Hello Purvis]

"You really think I am merely spouting niceties then, hmm? You have supported me physically by countering the poltergeist's aggression against me this morning. You have supported me mentally by offering your support in the face of the great challenge the Yama presents. You have supported me emotionally by giving me someone worth fighting for when I faced the poltergeist's onslaught yesterday, and by trusting me when so many of Gensokyo's residents do not."

>"Yeah, but it's not as grand as you're making it all out to be," she says. "I'm just looking to beat up whoever did it."

>_

[Suwako Moriya]

> "It might not be grand to you, but it is to me. Really."

[Hello Purvis]

> "It might not be grand to you, but it is to me. Really."

>"Well fine," she says. "But don't make any mistakes about my place in this."

>_