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

[Kilgamayan]

> Smile.
> "It's quite all right. I don't hold it against you that you did what you thought best for you."
> Nod.
> "But thank you nonetheless."

[Hello Purvis]

> Smile.
> "It's quite all right. I don't hold it against you that you did what you thought best for you."
> Nod.
> "But thank you nonetheless."

>She nods.
>"What would you have me do, then, if you had your way?"

[Kilgamayan]

> "In the immediate case, or the long-term case?"

[Hello Purvis]

> "In the immediate case, or the long-term case?"

>"Both."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "All right, then. If you were to relinquish control of your decision to me...there are actually a few things I can think of to do in the immediate case. And I'm not going to lie or hide it from you; all would involve some degree of exposure on your part, exposure to people that are not myself or Tenshi."

[Hello Purvis]

> "All right, then. If you were to relinquish control of your decision to me...there are actually a few things I can think of to do in the immediate case. And I'm not going to lie or hide it from you; all would involve some degree of exposure on your part, exposure to people that are not myself or Tenshi."

>She nods. "It's hypothetical. Go ahead."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "All right. The first thing that comes to mind is going out and finding a greater being, one with years of both power and knowledge, and asking for their help in figuring out how we can use your existing life essence to manifest a shadow for you, one that is your own, because it is you."
> "The second thing is the restoration of Nitori and Kogasa. Given where they are, we could also take the time to meet your...parents, as it were. There are actually a couple of humans in that group that apparently came here from the outside world; they are sure to have some sort of advice on how to start a life in Gensokyo on one's own."
> "After that...anything else I would ask would be as a favor to me, and I cannot ask such things of you yet."

[Hello Purvis]

> "All right. The first thing that comes to mind is going out and finding a greater being, one with years of both power and knowledge, and asking for their help in figuring out how we can use your existing life essence to manifest a shadow for you, one that is your own, because it is you."
> "The second thing is the restoration of Nitori and Kogasa. Given where they are, we could also take the time to meet your...parents, as it were. There are actually a couple of humans in that group that apparently came here from the outside world; they are sure to have some sort of advice on how to start a life in Gensokyo on one's own."
> "After that...anything else I would ask would be as a favor to me, and I cannot ask such things of you yet."

>She frowns. "It...would be nice to have one. And...hm. Maybe I could do something for those two..."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Nod.
> "As for a long-term goal...I would like us all to be able to live lives where we can all live as we want, and none of us has to worry about each other's lifestyle choices causing major unwanted interference."

[Hello Purvis]

> Nod.
> "As for a long-term goal...I would like us all to be able to live lives where we can all live as we want, and none of us has to worry about each other's lifestyle choices causing major unwanted interference."

>She nods.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Now then...clearly, it would indeed be a good thing for you to have your own shadow. But...are you prepared to meet someone to get that accomplished?"

[Hello Purvis]

> "Now then...clearly, it would indeed be a good thing for you to have your own shadow. But...are you prepared to meet someone to get that accomplished?"

>"I'm not going to meet with just anyone," she says. "But...if you think they'd know something...maybe. I don't know."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Of course we wouldn't meet just anyone. I suspect Lady Moriya would be worth a visit, though she does reside on top of the mountain, so that could be difficult. Hmm...why don't you think on it, then? Patchouli did say you could last up to a month as things stand, and you don't appear to be in any sort of state of emergency. Perhaps we could revisit the idea later this evening, once you've had a decent chance to piece out why you're not sure of as many things about yourself as you are."

[Hello Purvis]

> "Of course we wouldn't meet just anyone. I suspect Lady Moriya would be worth a visit, though she does reside on top of the mountain, so that could be difficult. Hmm...why don't you think on it, then? Patchouli did say you could last up to a month as things stand, and you don't appear to be in any sort of state of emergency. Perhaps we could revisit the idea later this evening, once you've had a decent chance to piece out why you're not sure of as many things about yourself as you are."

>"Maybe," she says. "If you think we should..."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> What time is it?

[Hello Purvis]

> What time is it?

>It's a bit past noon.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Well, it depends on you and how you're feeling about things in general. I don't know what you're feeling in regards to the internal shadow issues, and I don't know how you feel about the idea of exposing yourself to someone versus the idea of manifesting a shadow of your own. If the former doesn't yet feel like it's an immediate pressing issue, but you're undecided on the latter, then I would suggest taking some time to think about what you want to do. As long as your body isn't telling you that you need to rush the decision, there's no sense in rushing the decision."

[Hello Purvis]

> "Well, it depends on you and how you're feeling about things in general. I don't know what you're feeling in regards to the internal shadow issues, and I don't know how you feel about the idea of exposing yourself to someone versus the idea of manifesting a shadow of your own. If the former doesn't yet feel like it's an immediate pressing issue, but you're undecided on the latter, then I would suggest taking some time to think about what you want to do. As long as your body isn't telling you that you need to rush the decision, there's no sense in rushing the decision."

>She nods. "Um...I suppose I'll think about it. And you can find me, when you're ready, if you got something else to do."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Okay. There is actually a thing or two I need to take care of while you're debating your decision. I presume you'll be somewhere in this forest?"

[Hello Purvis]

> "Okay. There is actually a thing or two I need to take care of while you're debating your decision. I presume you'll be somewhere in this forest?"

>She nods. "I'll meet you by the stream, where we met this morning."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> We remember about where that is, right?
> "All right, that works. As for the other thing...you mentioned possibly being able to do something for the kappa and the karakasa?"

[Hello Purvis]

> We remember about where that is, right?
> "All right, that works. As for the other thing...you mentioned possibly being able to do something for the kappa and the karakasa?"

>You have a pretty good idea, you think.
>"...Can you make sure they won't say anything?" asks the poltergeist. "Patchouli seemed to think you could."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "I will try my very best to talk them down from the idea. As long as I'm around when they're returned to normal I can point out to them that the only reason they're back to normal is because they're being trusted not to say anything, by both yourself and myself. That will hopefully be enough to keep them off your case."
> "As for specifics...you did say earlier that you didn't want to talk about the karakasa in front of Tenshi. Was there a special reason you took her shadow? Or did you tell me already, and I've just forgotten it in the whirlwind of activity."

[Hello Purvis]

> "I will try my very best to talk them down from the idea. As long as I'm around when they're returned to normal I can point out to them that the only reason they're back to normal is because they're being trusted not to say anything, by both yourself and myself. That will hopefully be enough to keep them off your case."
> "As for specifics...you did say earlier that you didn't want to talk about the karakasa in front of Tenshi. Was there a special reason you took her shadow? Or did you tell me already, and I've just forgotten it in the whirlwind of activity."

>"I didn't want to talk about anything in front of Tenshi," she says. "I just took hers because she came after me..."

[Kilgamayan]

> "Okay, then. Hmm...you put me into Bhava-Agra's shadow before. If you did it again, how quickly could you pull me out?"

[Hello Purvis]

> "Okay, then. Hmm...you put me into Bhava-Agra's shadow before. If you did it again, how quickly could you pull me out?"

>"I don't know," she says. "I'm not sure if I could pull you out...I think I could."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Frown.
> "If I had the time and energy resources, I'd be willing to test it out, but..."
> Shake our head quickly, like we're trying to shake off a bad memory.
> "I'd really rather not have to go through Makai again, if I can avoid it. Is there a way you can communicate with those two? Nitori, at least, still seemed pretty self-aware."

[Hello Purvis]

> Frown.
> "If I had the time and energy resources, I'd be willing to test it out, but..."
> Shake our head quickly, like we're trying to shake off a bad memory.
> "I'd really rather not have to go through Makai again, if I can avoid it. Is there a way you can communicate with those two? Nitori, at least, still seemed pretty self-aware."

>"I haven't tried," she says. "Maybe I can do something. But it would be better for you to go in. I am fairly sure I can get you out."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Nod.
> "All right. But just in case, before we try it, I want to make sure I let you know everything I wanted to tell you before we parted ways."
> "The main thing to note, while you're deciding what you want to do about meeting someone is that, as obvious as it is, not everyone in Gensokyo is like me. There isn't anyone in Gensokyo I can think of that's actively malicious, but many of them hold their own views of how to conduct themselves. Whoever we visit to see if they have a solution to your problem is going to be someone very powerful, and very knowledgeable. It is also possible they will act in a manner that may seen smug, or possibly even downright condescending. You heard some of the things Patchouli said, I'm sure. I would be sure to bring you to someone I feel would not go out of their way to betray your trust if you did not antagonize them, but I cannot guarantee that they'll converse the same way I do."

[Hello Purvis]

> Nod.
> "All right. But just in case, before we try it, I want to make sure I let you know everything I wanted to tell you before we parted ways."
> "The main thing to note, while you're deciding what you want to do about meeting someone is that, as obvious as it is, not everyone in Gensokyo is like me. There isn't anyone in Gensokyo I can think of that's actively malicious, but many of them hold their own views of how to conduct themselves. Whoever we visit to see if they have a solution to your problem is going to be someone very powerful, and very knowledgeable. It is also possible they will act in a manner that may seen smug, or possibly even downright condescending. You heard some of the things Patchouli said, I'm sure. I would be sure to bring you to someone I feel would not go out of their way to betray your trust if you did not antagonize them, but I cannot guarantee that they'll converse the same way I do."

>"I'm hoping you'll help with that," says the poltergeist.
>She starts to concentrate, and the world around you starts to grow darker.

>_