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

[Kilgamayan]

> "Ah, wait, sorry, before you do this! There's one more thing."

[Hello Purvis]

> "Ah, wait, sorry, before you do this! There's one more thing."

>She nods for you to go on.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "I know full well that this is not going to work. But, presuming you've never tried it on a youkai before, I'd like you to try to enter my shadow anyway, just as an additional experiment."

[Hello Purvis]

> "I know full well that this is not going to work. But, presuming you've never tried it on a youkai before, I'd like you to try to enter my shadow anyway, just as an additional experiment."

"Afterward," says the poltergeist, as the shadow of Bhava-Agra manifests. "I can't get to yours now. Are you ready?"

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "How do I contact you once I'm there to let you know I'm ready to get back out? Once I know that, and you've found Nitori and Kogasa to deposit me next to, I'm good to go."

[Hello Purvis]

> "How do I contact you once I'm there to let you know I'm ready to get back out? Once I know that, and you've found Nitori and Kogasa to deposit me next to, I'm good to go."

>"I'll be doing my best to watch you," says the poltergeist. "Just...wave your arms a lot when you're ready to leave."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Got it. Off to find those two, then. Best of luck to both of us."

[Hello Purvis]

> "Got it. Off to find those two, then. Best of luck to both of us."

>"I'll do my best to bring them to you," says the Poltergeist. "Close your eyes, it's probably easier that way."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Close eyes and smile.
> "Thanks. For everything."

[Hello Purvis]

> Close eyes and smile.
> "Thanks. For everything."

>"You're welcome, for what it's worth," says the Poltergeist.
>Everything goes silent.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>Wait a moment, then open our eyes and look around

[Hello Purvis]

>Wait a moment, then open our eyes and look around

>You open your eyes. There is that not quite purple sky, while you stand on a field of not properly green grass. The island you are on is rather large, you can see houses in the distance. You think this is probably the one that is floating over the Bamboo Forest. Looking down, you can see Nitori's shadow overlapped with your own.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"Hello again, Nitori. Don't worry, this time I came here of my own free will, believe it or not. I've made a big step towards bringing you back into the physical world, but we need to speak of a few things first."
>Scanning around, can we see any sign of Kogasa's shadow?
>If the terrain is suitable here, kneel down to the ground, like we used to communicate last time. If not, move to a place that is, and do so.
>"Has anything changed here, since we saw each other last? How've you been?"

[Hello Purvis]

>"Hello again, Nitori. Don't worry, this time I came here of my own free will, believe it or not. I've made a big step towards bringing you back into the physical world, but we need to speak of a few things first."
>Scanning around, can we see any sign of Kogasa's shadow?
>If the terrain is suitable here, kneel down to the ground, like we used to communicate last time. If not, move to a place that is, and do so.
>"Has anything changed here, since we saw each other last? How've you been?"

>Looking around, you don't see any signs of Kogasa's shadow.
>It is a bit too grassy to write in the dirt here. You see a dirt road nearby, and make use of it.
>Using the method you used last time, Nitori says, "I don't think anything's changed. I'm fine. The...things where I kind of lose focus and think I'm elsewhere are happening more and more now.  I think I saw you. And Renko, once."

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"Yes, you're actually at Renko's right now. Okuu and Parsee took you there after we found Kogasa, so that we could keep watch over everyone at the same place. You seemed a little more present, the last time I tried speaking to you from there. I'm not certain exactly why. It may be simply that you realize what has happened to you, now. I'm not sure."
>"I've been speaking with the poltergeist who did this to you. She may be willing to return you to your body, but there is a condition. She wishes that you never speak of her existence to another person. I understand how you may feel towards her, after what she did to you. Certainly a grievous wrong was perpetrated against you. But she is not as bad a person as she appeared, and the fight that took place on that hill was the product of a deep misunderstanding. I know this may be difficult to believe, and it has certainly been a long and difficult road for me to reach this understanding, myself. Please do not think I am attempting to excuse her acts. I am not. But I believe that if you can pledge this vow in good faith, she would mean you no further harm. Are you willing to do this?"

[Hello Purvis]

>"Yes, you're actually at Renko's right now. Okuu and Parsee took you there after we found Kogasa, so that we could keep watch over everyone at the same place. You seemed a little more present, the last time I tried speaking to you from there. I'm not certain exactly why. It may be simply that you realize what has happened to you, now. I'm not sure."
>"I've been speaking with the poltergeist who did this to you. She may be willing to return you to your body, but there is a condition. She wishes that you never speak of her existence to another person. I understand how you may feel towards her, after what she did to you. Certainly a grievous wrong was perpetrated against you. But she is not as bad a person as she appeared, and the fight that took place on that hill was the product of a deep misunderstanding. I know this may be difficult to believe, and it has certainly been a long and difficult road for me to reach this understanding, myself. Please do not think I am attempting to excuse her acts. I am not. But I believe that if you can pledge this vow in good faith, she would mean you no further harm. Are you willing to do this?"

>"Does that prelude me from hitting with a wrench?" Nitori asks.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"I... think that might exacerbate matters, as justified as it might seem. Our negotiating position is tenuous at best, and it is not an exaggeration to say that it is a major step forward for her to consider this at all. If it's any consolation, I knocked her unconscious once already. I know that probably doesn't mean much, but..."

[Hello Purvis]

>"I... think that might exacerbate matters, as justified as it might seem. Our negotiating position is tenuous at best, and it is not an exaggeration to say that it is a major step forward for her to consider this at all. If it's any consolation, I knocked her unconscious once already. I know that probably doesn't mean much, but..."

>"I'll show her what it means to be knocked unconscious," Nitori writes.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"Believe me when I say that I fully understand where you're coming from. Any other in your situation would probably feel similarly, or worse. You have seen her as a violent aggressor, who perpetrated a grievous act against you. I have seen that, too.  After what she's done to you, I'm sure these words will ring hollow, but I have seen a different side of her as well. One that she's shown to no one else, and may never show again. She is in a very difficult and tortured situation, and her acts are not always as they seem on the surface. I would say more, but I have given my word of confidentiality. Suffice it to say that I wish to do my utmost to help her, as well as those she's wronged. I don't expect you to care about her situation. In fact, you may think that this is the least she deserves, after her actions. I would not argue the point."
>"But all of what I've worked so hard towards depends on trust. The only reason she would let you go at all is because she has given her trust to me to pledge for your silence. I placed my shadow at her mercy, knowing exactly what she could do with it, so strong was my conviction that I find an answer to all this. If she releases you on my word, and you break your promise, or strike out at her, all that I have built could be lost. Kogasa might remain trapped here forever, and I may never be able to restore my home. Even if you wish her nothing but sufferings, and care not for what she might do in reprisal, I would ask that you do this for my sake, if nothing else."

[Hello Purvis]

>"Believe me when I say that I fully understand where you're coming from. Any other in your situation would probably feel similarly, or worse. You have seen her as a violent aggressor, who perpetrated a grievous act against you. I have seen that, too.  After what she's done to you, I'm sure these words will ring hollow, but I have seen a different side of her as well. One that she's shown to no one else, and may never show again. She is in a very difficult and tortured situation, and her acts are not always as they seem on the surface. I would say more, but I have given my word of confidentiality. Suffice it to say that I wish to do my utmost to help her, as well as those she's wronged. I don't expect you to care about her situation. In fact, you may think that this is the least she deserves, after her actions. I would not argue the point."
>"But all of what I've worked so hard towards depends on trust. The only reason she would let you go at all is because she has given her trust to me to pledge for your silence. I placed my shadow at her mercy, knowing exactly what she could do with it, so strong was my conviction that I find an answer to all this. If she releases you on my word, and you break your promise, or strike out at her, all that I have built could be lost. Kogasa might remain trapped here forever, and I may never be able to restore my home. Even if you wish her nothing but sufferings, and care not for what she might do in reprisal, I would ask that you do this for my sake, if nothing else."

>"So you want me to just forget about her, huh?" Nitori writes, after a moment.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"Unless certain other things change, I think that would be for the best. I realize it's asking a lot. I don't ask it lightly. And I'm sorry..."

[Hello Purvis]

>"Unless certain other things change, I think that would be for the best. I realize it's asking a lot. I don't ask it lightly. And I'm sorry..."

>"Fine," Nitori writes.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"Thank you, Nitori. So I can give her your word that you will tell no one else about her, nor seek to harm her yourself?"

[Hello Purvis]

>"Thank you, Nitori. So I can give her your word that you will tell no one else about her, nor seek to harm her yourself?"

>"As long as I don't see her again," Nitori writes. "If I find her around kappa town, all bets are off."

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"She has no desire to be seen or found by anyone, or to venture far from her home. What happened the other night was exceptional. I expect that if that ever happens, the situation will have changed substantially. Thank you again."
>Is there still no sign of Kogasa's shadow around?
>If not: "I don't suppose you've seen Kogasa around here anywhere, have you? Or her shadow, at any rate."

[Hello Purvis]

>"She has no desire to be seen or found by anyone, or to venture far from her home. What happened the other night was exceptional. I expect that if that ever happens, the situation will have changed substantially. Thank you again."
>Is there still no sign of Kogasa's shadow around?
>If not: "I don't suppose you've seen Kogasa around here anywhere, have you? Or her shadow, at any rate."

>"I wasn't even here until you showed up," says Nitori.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Oh, were you experiencing the floating again?"

[Hello Purvis]

> "Oh, were you experiencing the floating again?"

>"For awhile," Nitori writes. "But then I ended up on that island with the giant palace, and you were gone. What happened?"

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "I got out through a crack in the void. I'm so sorry about leaving you there, I had no idea what was going to happen. I certainly didn't intend to just abandon you to fall through space."

[Hello Purvis]

> "I got out through a crack in the void. I'm so sorry about leaving you there, I had no idea what was going to happen. I certainly didn't intend to just abandon you to fall through space."

>"I figured," she writes.

>_