Iku Quest Otto - A Z-Machine Adventure

[Kilgamayan]

> "What experience is this? I admit some of what I said is conclusions based on what I have been told. Perhaps I reached an incorrect conclusion somewhere along the way."

[Hello Purvis]

> "What experience is this? I admit some of what I said is conclusions based on what I have been told. Perhaps I reached an incorrect conclusion somewhere along the way."

>She continues to glare at the ground for a bit, then says, "I'd rather not go into it..."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Sympathetic tone.
> "Look. I know this must be really hard for you. But I want to help you now more than ever, after learning everything I have today. And surely you want to help yourself, as grim as all the options may seem. It may disgust you, talking about personal things. But I know what I've heard, and even if you don't fully believe me, you know there's something wrong. All you have to do is let me help you."

[Hello Purvis]

> Sympathetic tone.
> "Look. I know this must be really hard for you. But I want to help you now more than ever, after learning everything I have today. And surely you want to help yourself, as grim as all the options may seem. It may disgust you, talking about personal things. But I know what I've heard, and even if you don't fully believe me, you know there's something wrong. All you have to do is let me help you."

>She sighs. "I know why what you suggested is wrong," she says. She pauses for a moment. "It's because I don't have one."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> What form is her shadow right now? Probably should have checked that earlier.
> "...a spirit?"

[Hello Purvis]

> What form is her shadow right now? Probably should have checked that earlier.
> "...a spirit?"

>It seems she is using Nitori's shadow at the moment.
>"Maybe," she says. "But... I meant..."
>She gestures toward Nitori's shadow.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "...Oh. ...Oh dear."
> Silence.
> "...But...wait...what about yesterday? When we fought, I could have sworn you had one."

[Hello Purvis]

> "...Oh. ...Oh dear."
> Silence.
> "...But...wait...what about yesterday? When we fought, I could have sworn you had one."

>"It wasn't mine," she says. "I was using this one."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Did the Prismrivers cast shadows, that we recall?
> Give the poltergeist a sympathetic look.
> "...I'm so sorry. That's...just terrible, to have that done to you."

[Hello Purvis]

> Did the Prismrivers cast shadows, that we recall?
> Give the poltergeist a sympathetic look.
> "...I'm so sorry. That's...just terrible, to have that done to you."

>You think so. You didn't pay much attention to them, but by now you most certainly would have noticed a lack a shadow.
>"It's not been done to me," she says. "I merely never had one. Why do you think I took others?"

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "I mean that more in a sense of whatever powers that be in charge of forming the body. That sort of thing. Well, if you don't have one of your own, we just have to get you one, don't we?"

[Hello Purvis]

> "I mean that more in a sense of whatever powers that be in charge of forming the body. That sort of thing. Well, if you don't have one of your own, we just have to get you one, don't we?"

>"And how would you do that?" she asks.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "That would be a question for those more knowledgeable about the subject than I. But one of the mountain goddesses did say that a shadow was important in that it was a sign that light could touch the thing casting the shadow. If we can figure out why the light isn't touching you, perhaps that problem can be fixed."

[Hello Purvis]

> "That would be a question for those more knowledgeable about the subject than I. But one of the mountain goddesses did say that a shadow was important in that it was a sign that light could touch the thing casting the shadow. If we can figure out why the light isn't touching you, perhaps that problem can be fixed."

>"I know why," she says. "I'm just not...solid enough."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Spiritually or physically? The latter would not be true, as even ghosts cast shadows. Dim ones, but they're there."

[Hello Purvis]

> "Spiritually or physically? The latter would not be true, as even ghosts cast shadows. Dim ones, but they're there."

>"I think more the former," she says. "But maybe some of the latter, too."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "I kind of don't want to say this, but...I wonder if the spiritual deficiency you perceive comes from your firm belief in the depravity of exposure."

[DracoOmega]

>"Lady Moriya told me in no uncertain terms that if a poltergeist ever fully succeeded in concealing themselves from the world, they would cease to be. It is only by making noise in the world that their existence can be sustained."

[Hello Purvis]

> "I kind of don't want to say this, but...I wonder if the spiritual deficiency you perceive comes from your firm belief in the depravity of exposure."

>"What?"

>"Lady Moriya told me in no uncertain terms that if a poltergeist ever fully succeeded in concealing themselves from the world, they would cease to be. It is only by making noise in the world that their existence can be sustained."

>She gives you a long, hard look.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "The foundation of a poltergeist's existence is to be noticed. With you rejecting being noticed, you essentially reject your own existence. I imagine that such a thing could cause some sort of spiritual damage. I admit this is only speculation, though."

[DracoOmega]

>Was that a 'sternly considering' look, or more of a 'how dare you suggest such a thing' look?

[Hello Purvis]

> "The foundation of a poltergeist's existence is to be noticed. With you rejecting being noticed, you essentially reject your own existence. I imagine that such a thing could cause some sort of spiritual damage. I admit this is only speculation, though."

>"No," she says.

>Was that a 'sternly considering' look, or more of a 'how dare you suggest such a thing' look?

>More the latter.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Shrug.
> "All right then. Regardless, my suggestion would still be to ask someone with experience in spirituality. Lady Moriya comes to mind immediately, given her wisdom in all seemingly relevant areas."

[Hello Purvis]

> Shrug.
> "All right then. Regardless, my suggestion would still be to ask someone with experience in spirituality. Lady Moriya comes to mind immediately, given her wisdom in all seemingly relevant areas."

>"I think," she says, "It's really only gone on to show that the course I've taken is the only possible one for me."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Frown.
> "So you have chosen death over seeking the help of others, then."

[Hello Purvis]

> Frown.
> "So you have chosen death over seeking the help of others, then."

>"I've chosen the only way that can work," she says.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Only because your refusal to let people help you properly has not given them the information necessary to diagnose the exact problems and provide a solution. You should have seen how frustrated the librarian became with me because of how much I refused to tell her, all at your request. I bet she could offer a solution you would actually live through, if you would let her."

[Hello Purvis]

> "Only because your refusal to let people help you properly has not given them the information necessary to diagnose the exact problems and provide a solution. You should have seen how frustrated the librarian became with me because of how much I refused to tell her, all at your request. I bet she could offer a solution you would actually live through, if you would let her."

>"No," says the Poltergeist.
>She gestures toward the book.
>"None of that applies to me. I'm not human or a magician."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "What's written in the book may not apply to you, but I'm sure she'd be glad to tell you what effects what you're doing would have on a poltergeist. I did tell you she sarcastically offered to go through every type of creature. The only explicit exception she made was for deities; everything else is apparently doomed to death."

[Hello Purvis]

> "What's written in the book may not apply to you, but I'm sure she'd be glad to tell you what effects what you're doing would have on a poltergeist. I did tell you she sarcastically offered to go through every type of creature. The only explicit exception she made was for deities; everything else is apparently doomed to death."

>"I'll make it work," she says.

>_