Iku Quest N?nt? - A Z-Machine Adventure

[Hello Purvis]

> Push a little further into the forest.

>You push your way in a little further. You start to see a few mushrooms about, as the foliage clears a bit.
>"Wait," comes the poltergeist's voice from some distance behind you.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Sorry!"
> Back track a little bit.

[Hello Purvis]

> "Sorry!"
> Back track a little bit.

>You backtrack a bit, and find the Poltergeist following roughly the same path that you were following. "You flew ahead," she says. "And I had to get around the doll woman's cabin."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Terribly sorry about that. I had to fly off with Tenshi to make sure the other celestial did not suspect anything was amiss. In retrospect, I should have thought about how we were going to meet up again, but at least we're both here now."

[Hello Purvis]

> "Terribly sorry about that. I had to fly off with Tenshi to make sure the other celestial did not suspect anything was amiss. In retrospect, I should have thought about how we were going to meet up again, but at least we're both here now."

>She nods. "I understand, you needed to keep up appearances."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Right. So...what do you think of all you heard, then?"

[Hello Purvis]

> "Right. So...what do you think of all you heard, then?"

>"I see no reason why she was right," says the Poltergeist. "What makes what she says right and what I say wrong?"

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "I am inclined to place informational trust in her because she has years of experience and research, research gathered from people that have done the hands-on work, that have seen things for themselves."

[Hello Purvis]

> "I am inclined to place informational trust in her because she has years of experience and research, research gathered from people that have done the hands-on work, that have seen things for themselves."

>She doesn't say anything, glaring at the ground.

>_

[Suwako Moriya]

> "It is true that she did not have specific documentation on what sort of effects the power drain you're attempting will have on a poltergeist, but she seemed confident they existed. She is not the type to just assume things - if she says anything, she has a good reason to believe it is so. I would imagine that she has studied or researched the fundamental theories behind that sort of power drain magic and knows on a core level why it is not good for any mortal creature, regardless of their specific biological makeup. She would not be so positive that a poltergeist could not handle what you are attempting if her studies and research in closely related areas was lacking."

[Hello Purvis]

> "It is true that she did not have specific documentation on what sort of effects the power drain you're attempting will have on a poltergeist, but she seemed confident they existed. She is not the type to just assume things - if she says anything, she has a good reason to believe it is so. I would imagine that she has studied or researched the fundamental theories behind that sort of power drain magic and knows on a core level why it is not good for any mortal creature, regardless of their specific biological makeup. She would not be so positive that a poltergeist could not handle what you are attempting if her studies and research in closely related areas was lacking."

>She still doesn't say anything or look away from the ground.

>_

[Suwako Moriya]

Have a plan, give me a moment.

[Kilgamayan]

> "However. All thse facts must be considered. You only recently learned a couple of important aspects of poltergeist biology, and you yourself have admitted that you are not sure why Bhava-Agra's shadow is not fitting right, or why all the shadows are behaving. You are also the most adept shadow-user I have ever met, or am even aware of, and you are the only one that knows exactly what those sensations feel like. Patchouli is extremely well-read, has likely dabbled in more magical arts than I could count off the top of my head, appears to know much of poltergeist sustenance, and is the type of person who would make sure they are logically confident in anything they say. She is also not a poltergeist, she does not know herself what the feelings are like that you are experiencing, she has admitted that shadow magic is not her area of expertise, and while she feels she could obtain documentation on poltergeists and excess power draining, she does not have it now, and is not even 100% sure it exists."
> "If you were to ask me my opinion, I would say that Patchouli very likely knows what she is talking about, but I have no concrete proof, just my experiences with her and what knowledge she has demonstrated in the past."

[Hello Purvis]

> "However. All thse facts must be considered. You only recently learned a couple of important aspects of poltergeist biology, and you yourself have admitted that you are not sure why Bhava-Agra's shadow is not fitting right, or why all the shadows are behaving. You are also the most adept shadow-user I have ever met, or am even aware of, and you are the only one that knows exactly what those sensations feel like. Patchouli is extremely well-read, has likely dabbled in more magical arts than I could count off the top of my head, appears to know much of poltergeist sustenance, and is the type of person who would make sure they are logically confident in anything they say. She is also not a poltergeist, she does not know herself what the feelings are like that you are experiencing, she has admitted that shadow magic is not her area of expertise, and while she feels she could obtain documentation on poltergeists and excess power draining, she does not have it now, and is not even 100% sure it exists."
> "If you were to ask me my opinion, I would say that Patchouli very likely knows what she is talking about, but I have no concrete proof, just my experiences with her and what knowledge she has demonstrated in the past."

>She looks at you are you explain your reasoning on the situation. Then gives a small, frustrated groan as she looks back to the ground. "You don't have to gloat about it," she mutters at length.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "I do not want to gloat. If that is how I came off, I apologize. What I want is for you to have as many facts as possible, so that you may make the decision you feel is the best decision for you."

[Hello Purvis]

> "I do not want to gloat. If that is how I came off, I apologize. What I want is for you to have as many facts as possible, so that you may make the decision you feel is the best decision for you."

>She nods once, still looking at the ground.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "And in that vein, I should tell you more about where I am coming from, because Patchouli was right in a way on a different subject, and I have been unfair to you from the very beginning. It only really struck me when she mentioned it, which I am ashamed of, because I have actually found that you and Tenshi are a lot alike, but I have been perfectly willing to grant her what I have not granted you."
> "There are a given number of things in this situation that are unacceptable outcomes for me. I cannot leave my home to remain where it is for the rest of time. I cannot let Nitori and Kogasa live out their days as soulless husks. I cannot let Gensokyo go on as a land where people have to worry that they may lose their shadow because they made a mistake and met the wrong person in the wrong place at the wrong time in the wrong way. At the same time, I cannot let you die. I cannot assault you and get someone more powerful than myself to forcibly drag the shadows out of you. And, just as I have told Tenshi, I cannot force you to change who you are to satisfy my desires. I may ask, sure, and if you decide to give it a shot, all the better. But I cannot demand you do this. This is unfair to you. So, for all the times, yesterday and today, that I have demanded you change yourself on my behalf...I am well and truly sorry."

[Hello Purvis]

> "And in that vein, I should tell you more about where I am coming from, because Patchouli was right in a way on a different subject, and I have been unfair to you from the very beginning. It only really struck me when she mentioned it, which I am ashamed of, because I have actually found that you and Tenshi are a lot alike, but I have been perfectly willing to grant her what I have not granted you."
> "There are a given number of things in this situation that are unacceptable outcomes for me. I cannot leave my home to remain where it is for the rest of time. I cannot let Nitori and Kogasa live out their days as soulless husks. I cannot let Gensokyo go on as a land where people have to worry that they may lose their shadow because they made a mistake and met the wrong person in the wrong place at the wrong time in the wrong way. At the same time, I cannot let you die. I cannot assault you and get someone more powerful than myself to forcibly drag the shadows out of you. And, just as I have told Tenshi, I cannot force you to change who you are to satisfy my desires. I may ask, sure, and if you decide to give it a shot, all the better. But I cannot demand you do this. This is unfair to you. So, for all the times, yesterday and today, that I have demanded you change yourself on my behalf...I am well and truly sorry."

>She nods. "...Thank you."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Smile.
> "You are quite welcome."

[Hello Purvis]

> Smile.
> "You are quite welcome."

>She doesn't reply, and probably doesn't notice your smile given she has yet to look up.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Patchouli said a lot of other things. Is there anything else she mentioned that you want to talk about, or do you want to spend some time thinking about what you want to do?"

[Hello Purvis]

> "Patchouli said a lot of other things. Is there anything else she mentioned that you want to talk about, or do you want to spend some time thinking about what you want to do?"

>"I know what I want to do," she says, still not looking at you. "That's not changed. Just...."
>She lets it drop.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Stand a moment in silence.
> Walk over to the poltergeist, so she is within arm's reach.

[Hello Purvis]

> Stand a moment in silence.
> Walk over to the poltergeist, so she is within arm's reach.

>You walk over to her after a moment of silence. She doesn't react. You aren't certain if she's really noticed.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Stand there in silence for another couple of seconds, then gently put a hand on her shoulder.

[Hello Purvis]

> Stand there in silence for another couple of seconds, then gently put a hand on her shoulder.

>You put your hand on her shoulder. She stiffens a bit, but does nothing else.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Take a soft tone.
> "Whatever you choose to do...I will do my best to help."

[Hello Purvis]

> Take a soft tone.
> "Whatever you choose to do...I will do my best to help."

>"Even if I decide to do it, anyways?" she says in a low and uncertain tone.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "If you decide to continue on your own, then I have failed, our business will be concluded...and I will fulfill my end of the bargain to you."

[Hello Purvis]

> "If you decide to continue on your own, then I have failed, our business will be concluded...and I will fulfill my end of the bargain to you."

>"So you'll only help if you like the result, is it?" she says.

>_