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

[Hello Purvis]

> "Now, I'm not saying it couldn't work, but it would be quite difficult. I should also probably take this time to point out that the two of us are lucky in that we knew how to read and speak upon our conception into a humanoid form. I forget if I mentioned this before, but I am actually a humanoid youkai evolved from an oarfish, many centuries ago. I also know how to write, and I presume you do as well, given your mentioning of letters and signs. If not, well, I apologize for pressing what is potentially a sore spot, but ultimately it doesn't change a larger fact. Not everyone is born knowing how to read, write, or speak. In fact, to the best of my knowledge, every member of the human race is born into the world not knowing how to read, write or speak, save for one person who is a very special case involving reincarnation and retained memories of previous lives. Any humans that you hear talk, or see reading or writing, had to be taught how to do these things by others. I believe there are also cases of youkai evolving from animals with similar afflictions, though you would likely have to ask one such youkai for specific examples, and that's obviously out of the picture."

>She nods, frowning.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Of course, I do have to grant that you are not human, that you DID know how to read and speak and presumably write upon your birth, so I would understand if you felt that these setbacks still did not apply to you in particular. You have also seemed to circumvent your lack of flight quite neatly, and I imagine you lack the need for what are necessities of life to others, such as food and shelter. I did mention the sewing thing earlier today, but while I think it's rather unlikely you would be able to learn how to sew without getting direct help from someone that already knows how, I cannot say for sure that you would never succeed. I cannot even say for sure that you will definitely need a seamstress at some point in your life, as I know and expect to hear basically nothing about your wardrobe beyond what I see right now."

[Hello Purvis]

> "Of course, I do have to grant that you are not human, that you DID know how to read and speak and presumably write upon your birth, so I would understand if you felt that these setbacks still did not apply to you in particular. You have also seemed to circumvent your lack of flight quite neatly, and I imagine you lack the need for what are necessities of life to others, such as food and shelter. I did mention the sewing thing earlier today, but while I think it's rather unlikely you would be able to learn how to sew without getting direct help from someone that already knows how, I cannot say for sure that you would never succeed. I cannot even say for sure that you will definitely need a seamstress at some point in your life, as I know and expect to hear basically nothing about your wardrobe beyond what I see right now."

>She nods again, still listening.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Now, getting back to the letters idea. May I ask where the material for those letters comes from?"

[Hello Purvis]

> "Now, getting back to the letters idea. May I ask where the material for those letters comes from?"

>She doesn't say anything.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Hmm. What about actually delivering the letters? Presumably anyone can just up and walk to and from their destination, but the environment has several factors that could come into play. What if there are other people around on the path the writer has to take? What if the person receiving the latter happens to be home when the person delivering it arrives, and they have a window in their house that allows them view of the path up to where the letter is meant to be dropped off? I will tell you that your stealth talents are top-notch, rather than the norm. So while you might be able to handle unexpected situations okay, most people will not be able to rely on those abilities to get around, because they're just not as good at it as you are."

[Hello Purvis]

> "Hmm. What about actually delivering the letters? Presumably anyone can just up and walk to and from their destination, but the environment has several factors that could come into play. What if there are other people around on the path the writer has to take? What if the person receiving the latter happens to be home when the person delivering it arrives, and they have a window in their house that allows them view of the path up to where the letter is meant to be dropped off? I will tell you that your stealth talents are top-notch, rather than the norm. So while you might be able to handle unexpected situations okay, most people will not be able to rely on those abilities to get around, because they're just not as good at it as you are."

>"I imagine they would pick it up quickly enough, if they were interested in it," says the Poltergeist.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "It is possible they could develop the teachable talents, yes. But there are still some physical issues. There's no delicate way to discuss this, so I'm just going to be blunt about it, and preemptively ask for forgiveness should I touch a sore spot. You weigh very, very little. When I first carried you around yesterday, you did not slow me down very much at all, and it really felt like I could have just slung you over my shoulder with not much effort. Were you acting as dead weight, I could probably move you around with one hand, whereas I would likely have difficulty moving a human or a youkai around with two. I expect this is an important factor in something I noticed earlier in the library; you make practically no noise when moving around. I saw you running, but heard no real footfalls. Certainly not the thump thump thump I would expect to hear from someone such as myself were I running around somewhere. In addition to this, unlike humans and youkai, you do not appear to need to breathe, which is another noise advantage you have. Inhaling and exhaling can be very audible in an otherwise quiet environment. Staying out of sight could possibly be overcome with enough effort and training. Staying silent? Those are physical limitations, rather than mental ones."

[Hello Purvis]

> "It is possible they could develop the teachable talents, yes. But there are still some physical issues. There's no delicate way to discuss this, so I'm just going to be blunt about it, and preemptively ask for forgiveness should I touch a sore spot. You weigh very, very little. When I first carried you around yesterday, you did not slow me down very much at all, and it really felt like I could have just slung you over my shoulder with not much effort. Were you acting as dead weight, I could probably move you around with one hand, whereas I would likely have difficulty moving a human or a youkai around with two. I expect this is an important factor in something I noticed earlier in the library; you make practically no noise when moving around. I saw you running, but heard no real footfalls. Certainly not the thump thump thump I would expect to hear from someone such as myself were I running around somewhere. In addition to this, unlike humans and youkai, you do not appear to need to breathe, which is another noise advantage you have. Inhaling and exhaling can be very audible in an otherwise quiet environment. Staying out of sight could possibly be overcome with enough effort and training. Staying silent? Those are physical limitations, rather than mental ones."

>"I'm not really hearing you breathe, even you when you weren't saying anything," says the poltergeist. "And, moving silently is largely skill, anyone can do it. Even if I'm gifted. I think anyone could do it."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "I imagine it would still require some degree of trial and error to get correct, though."

[Hello Purvis]

> "I imagine it would still require some degree of trial and error to get correct, though."

>"Well, you learn while there's no one around," she says. "But I think I understand what you mean."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "So, on the whole, it sounds like problems with travel could be overcome, but trust and resource-gathering would be rather difficult."

[Hello Purvis]

> "So, on the whole, it sounds like problems with travel could be overcome, but trust and resource-gathering would be rather difficult."

>She nods. "Some of it could be dealt with by books, you should consider, and a book need not expose anyone."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Assuming the same person writes and binds the book."

[Hello Purvis]

> "Assuming the same person writes and binds the book."

>She nods. "Yes, that is so."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Hmm. What of the person or people about which the book is written?"

[Hello Purvis]

> "Hmm. What of the person or people about which the book is written?"

>"It doesn't have to be written about anyone," says the Poltergeist.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "That seems like it would eliminate a lot of research materials currently present."

[Hello Purvis]

> "That seems like it would eliminate a lot of research materials currently present."

>"Maybe so," she says. "But would you use knife made from a person's bones because it was convenient?"

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Most likely not, though I'm not sure I agree with the implication that convenience is born solely from the suffering of others."

[Hello Purvis]

> "Most likely not, though I'm not sure I agree with the implication that convenience is born solely from the suffering of others."

>"It isn't," she says, "But my point is, even if you needed it, you wouldn't use it. Because it's an abomination. if it were a normal knife, you wouldn't even think twice."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "I actually wonder if there isn't a need large enough that would cause me to use a knife made of the bone of another person. But, to be honest, I also wonder if either of us will actually get anything out of the conversation, regardless of whether or not one side is able to argue the other into submission somehow. Were you to convince me an anonymous society were possible, that wouldn't mean I'd stop appreciating the joy and convenience of the one we have. I would only acknowledge that it's not necessary. On the other hand, were I to convince you that social tendencies are necessary to living, that wouldn't stop you from seeing them as abominations. I imagine you would only see life itself as an abomination."

[Hello Purvis]

> "I actually wonder if there isn't a need large enough that would cause me to use a knife made of the bone of another person. But, to be honest, I also wonder if either of us will actually get anything out of the conversation, regardless of whether or not one side is able to argue the other into submission somehow. Were you to convince me an anonymous society were possible, that wouldn't mean I'd stop appreciating the joy and convenience of the one we have. I would only acknowledge that it's not necessary. On the other hand, were I to convince you that social tendencies are necessary to living, that wouldn't stop you from seeing them as abominations. I imagine you would only see life itself as an abomination."

>"That's a very weird thing for you, of all people, to say, " says the Poltergeist, frowning.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Perhaps it would be better categorized as 'necessary evils', then. Certain things required to live require social tendencies, but you could still live with yourself because you make every effort to avoid those social tendencies unless directly required to survive."

[Hello Purvis]

> "Perhaps it would be better categorized as 'necessary evils', then. Certain things required to live require social tendencies, but you could still live with yourself because you make every effort to avoid those social tendencies unless directly required to survive."

>"No they don't, I've just told you how it's possible to live without them," she says. "None of it is vital, it's just convenient. And you can't be trying to tell me it's good because it's convenient. "

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "I'm not claiming they're good because they're convenient. And you never actually told me how one was supposed to gather materials."

[Hello Purvis]

> "I'm not claiming they're good because they're convenient. And you never actually told me how one was supposed to gather materials."

>"Someone had to figure it out on their own to begin with," says the poltergeist. "So there's that to begin with. Also, it's possible to get a book, like I already said."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "And how does one gather the materials to make the book?"

[Hello Purvis]

> "And how does one gather the materials to make the book?"

>"The same way one gathers them now," says the poltergeist. "They still have to be made, and someone had to figure it out originally."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "And what proof do you have that they were originally made by a single person, with no outside support at all?"