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

[Hello Purvis]

> "Hmm. And there are a handful of things I've asked about that are incongruous with your worldview, and you don't know why you do them...I wonder if you're having a subconscious conflict, somehow."

>"What are you talking about?" she says, frowning.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Well, you must be doing what you're doing for a reason, right? And it has to be a good enough reason to temporarily override your desire to hide at all costs, a desire that seems to be strong enough to directly conflict with your desire to live. But you don't know what that reason is, as you've told me a few times now."

[Hello Purvis]

> "Well, you must be doing what you're doing for a reason, right? And it has to be a good enough reason to temporarily override your desire to hide at all costs, a desire that seems to be strong enough to directly conflict with your desire to live. But you don't know what that reason is, as you've told me a few times now."

>She glares at the ground. "I thought, once I was done, I'd probably just take your shadow anyways, and then it'd be dealt with..."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "I see. Huh...I find it a bit odd that you use 'thought'. Have you changed your mind?"

[Hello Purvis]

> "I see. Huh...I find it a bit odd that you use 'thought'. Have you changed your mind?"

>She continues to glare at the ground. "...Maybe."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "...And you don't know why, do you?"

[Hello Purvis]

> "...And you don't know why, do you?"

>"Maybe I don't feel like it," she says, giving you a look. "Don't think that means I won't."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Don't worry. I may make some guesses, but I'm trying to not assume anything unless you come out and say it directly."

[Hello Purvis]

> "Don't worry. I may make some guesses, but I'm trying to not assume anything unless you come out and say it directly."

>"I see," she says. "You can keep them to yourself."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Mmm."
> Stand in silence for a couple of seconds.
> "Well...um...how has it been...being with me?"

[Hello Purvis]

> "Mmm."
> Stand in silence for a couple of seconds.
> "Well...um...how has it been...being with me?"

>She doesn't say anything, looking away.

>_

[Shadoweh]

> Consider making out with the poltergeist. It worked in Maribel Quest!
Edit: Actually, I might as well add something serious since I'm up.

> This conversation has hit alot of dead ends and we don't know how much time the Spectre has before Bhava-Arga's shadow causes her (and/or itself) harm. If convincing her starts going badly again, perhaps we should assist her in a short-term solution for being discovered? For example, having someone discover a fake Brocken Spectre so people stop looking for her. It would at least give you an excuse to keep working with her and for her not to take your shadow when you run out of things to say.
> Consider checking Rinnosuke's shop again to see if he picked up a Shadow Remover or Poltergeist Energy Source or something. You have four gems and a box to trade now if you really need something.
> Actually, do we know about Rinnosuke's power? If we do, he could find out if these gems are enchanted somehow.

[Kilgamayan]

> Raise eyebrows.
> Soften voice.
> "...I see..."

[Hello Purvis]

> Consider making out with the poltergeist. It worked in Maribel Quest!
Edit: Actually, I might as well add something serious since I'm up.

> This conversation has hit alot of dead ends and we don't know how much time the Spectre has before Bhava-Arga's shadow causes her (and/or itself) harm. If convincing her starts going badly again, perhaps we should assist her in a short-term solution for being discovered? For example, having someone discover a fake Brocken Spectre so people stop looking for her. It would at least give you an excuse to keep working with her and for her not to take your shadow when you run out of things to say.
> Consider checking Rinnosuke's shop again to see if he picked up a Shadow Remover or Poltergeist Energy Source or something. You have four gems and a box to trade now if you really need something.
> Actually, do we know about Rinnosuke's power? If we do, he could find out if these gems are enchanted somehow.

>You're like a yard taller than she is; you'd get such a backache.
>It is deceptive, but it might at least get people to stop looking; assuming Renko's loss of interest alone isn't enough.
>It seems unlikely he would get anything to help, but he does have a way of obtaining odd things, so who knows? It does rather feel like a longshot.
>You have no idea what he is capable of, but you imagine he must have some appraisal knowledge, at least.

> Raise eyebrows.
> Soften voice.
> "...I see..."

>"Do you?" she asks.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Stand in silence for a moment.
> Shake head.
> "No. You're right. I don't. I don't think I ever really have."

[Hello Purvis]

> Stand in silence for a moment.
> Shake head.
> "No. You're right. I don't. I don't think I ever really have."

>She nods, and looks back toward the ground.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "...I guess...I wasn't expecting that kind of answer. So that was all I could think of to say."

[Hello Purvis]

> "...I guess...I wasn't expecting that kind of answer. So that was all I could think of to say."

>"I understand," she says. She sighs. "It's been hard. But it's not really your fault it's been hard."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "...But it is my fault that it's been hard for you."

[Hello Purvis]

> "...But it is my fault that it's been hard for you."

>"Sort of," she says. "But not you especially. Anyone would have done it."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Perhaps, but that doesn't make them any less my actions. I tied you up in a humiliating fashion out of my own fear, and ever since then I've been doing everything I can to get you to do things that completely go against your worldview, without ever truly understanding how much it must have aggravated you to hear me say what I've said, or however much it must have hurt to respond in ways that satisfied me. And all that has led to this, with you seemingly so unsure about so many important things, and for my talk leading up to this moment, I can't think of a good way to help you. I...I'm so sorry. For everything I've done that hurt you, and for everything I've compelled you to do even though you knew it was wrong."

[Hello Purvis]

> "Perhaps, but that doesn't make them any less my actions. I tied you up in a humiliating fashion out of my own fear, and ever since then I've been doing everything I can to get you to do things that completely go against your worldview, without ever truly understanding how much it must have aggravated you to hear me say what I've said, or however much it must have hurt to respond in ways that satisfied me. And all that has led to this, with you seemingly so unsure about so many important things, and for my talk leading up to this moment, I can't think of a good way to help you. I...I'm so sorry. For everything I've done that hurt you, and for everything I've compelled you to do even though you knew it was wrong."

>"I wasn't thinking about those earlier things..." she says. "But, don't worry about it. Mistakes were made. I meant recently."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "You mean hearing and learning all that you have?"

[Hello Purvis]

> "You mean hearing and learning all that you have?"

>She nods.

[Kilgamayan]

> "Yes, that is understandable. I wish I knew more, so I could help you make the most informed decision possible."

[Hello Purvis]

> "Yes, that is understandable. I wish I knew more, so I could help you make the most informed decision possible."

>"You've been trying," she says. "It's...just kind of weird, you understand?"

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "I...can kind of understand, I think. I can actually imagine a couple of ways in which this is probably weird for you. I know what you said earlier, but...may I guess it's weird that someone has offered to help you this much?"

[Hello Purvis]

> "I...can kind of understand, I think. I can actually imagine a couple of ways in which this is probably weird for you. I know what you said earlier, but...may I guess it's weird that someone has offered to help you this much?"

>She nods. "Yes. And...well...all the things I've had to tell you..."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Nod.
> "Yes, that was going to be my other guess. Now, I can only begin to speculate what you are feeling about that part. But...I can at least tell you that I've been happy to try to help you as much as I can. Right from the outset, when it first looked like you might start having second thoughts about yelling at me before deciding to attack, I could tell that you weren't a malicious person. Merely agitated at being discovered, and perhaps a bit panicked over your loss. And time marching on has only shown me that my assessment was right. You may be a person with a different worldview from me, but you're still a person, with needs and wants and interests, just like anyone else. And when you told me about what was going on inside you...I couldn't let you face that on your own. You didn't deserve to be subjected to that kind of uncertainty. So here I've been, wanting to help you through it. Because...well, whether they see me the same way or not, I am always glad to help a new friend."

[Hello Purvis]

> Nod.
> "Yes, that was going to be my other guess. Now, I can only begin to speculate what you are feeling about that part. But...I can at least tell you that I've been happy to try to help you as much as I can. Right from the outset, when it first looked like you might start having second thoughts about yelling at me before deciding to attack, I could tell that you weren't a malicious person. Merely agitated at being discovered, and perhaps a bit panicked over your loss. And time marching on has only shown me that my assessment was right. You may be a person with a different worldview from me, but you're still a person, with needs and wants and interests, just like anyone else. And when you told me about what was going on inside you...I couldn't let you face that on your own. You didn't deserve to be subjected to that kind of uncertainty. So here I've been, wanting to help you through it. Because...well, whether they see me the same way or not, I am always glad to help a new friend."

>"...Thanks," she says at length. "And...sorry I lashed out at you yesterday."

>_