Iku Quest Deka: A Z-Machine Adventure

[Hello Purvis]

> "Well, this is actually a suggestion from Lady Yukari, though Lady Ran was there and raised no objections. I assume you are still willing to help, then?"

>"Oh...Well that's just as good!"
>She salutes.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Nod.
> "Excellent. Please come with me."
> Take flight and head toward Renko and Maribel's house.
> Along the way, turn to Chen.
> "So now that you have had some time to investigate them, what did you think of the floating islands?"

[Hello Purvis]

> Nod.
> "Excellent. Please come with me."
> Take flight and head toward Renko and Maribel's house.
> Along the way, turn to Chen.
> "So now that you have had some time to investigate them, what did you think of the floating islands?"

>"Got it!" says Chen.
>You start toward Maribel's house. This isn't going to take long.
>"The people there are jerks!" says Chen. "I hope they go away soon!"

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "That would be ideal for all involved, and we are hoping the errand you are going to run will play a part in that. I do think, however, that you deserve an explanation for their behavior. Tell me, Chen, if your house collapsed in an earthquake, and then strangers from the underground suddenly came over to it and started trying to take your food, would you be happy and let them?"

[Hello Purvis]

> "That would be ideal for all involved, and we are hoping the errand you are going to run will play a part in that. I do think, however, that you deserve an explanation for their behavior. Tell me, Chen, if your house collapsed in an earthquake, and then strangers from the underground suddenly came over to it and started trying to take your food, would you be happy and let them?"

>"Trees are fair game!" Chen says. "They were just being greedy and mean!"
>As you draw closer to Turtle House, Chen frowns. "I don't have to break into there, do I? Because Miss Yukari promised I would never have to do anything to them unless they turned on us."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "No, they are not our enemies. They have actually been very helpful to myself, as well as to their friends. Instead, you are going to wait here while I move a little bit further into the forest. I have another friend there who is...very, very shy, and does not want to meet with anyone. I need to make sure it is okay if you meet with her. She needs some very important information, information Miss Yukari is graciously willing to provide her, but she does not want to meet face-to-face. What you will need to do is to deliver hand-written messages between Miss Yukari and this friend of mine, assuming my friend is willing to meet with you. Can you do this for us?"

[Hello Purvis]

> "No, they are not our enemies. They have actually been very helpful to myself, as well as to their friends. Instead, you are going to wait here while I move a little bit further into the forest. I have another friend there who is...very, very shy, and does not want to meet with anyone. I need to make sure it is okay if you meet with her. She needs some very important information, information Miss Yukari is graciously willing to provide her, but she does not want to meet face-to-face. What you will need to do is to deliver hand-written messages between Miss Yukari and this friend of mine, assuming my friend is willing to meet with you. Can you do this for us?"

>"Oh, okay, that's way better," says Chen.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Nod.
> "Yes, I figured you might think so. However, it is important that you do not follow me into the forest until I tell you to, okay? This friend of mine is very uncomfortable around people, and we don't want to upset her, or else she may never get that important information, which will be sad for everyone. Perhaps you could spend some time with the girl that looks like Miss Yukari while you wait for me, if she is home."

[Hello Purvis]

> Nod.
> "Yes, I figured you might think so. However, it is important that you do not follow me into the forest until I tell you to, okay? This friend of mine is very uncomfortable around people, and we don't want to upset her, or else she may never get that important information, which will be sad for everyone. Perhaps you could spend some time with the girl that looks like Miss Yukari while you wait for me, if she is home."

>Chen nods. "I'll wait here."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Thank you. Don't be afraid to check in to see if anyone is home. There may also be some other people around that don't live here. If you see a blonde youkai in brown clothing, a blue-haired kappa in green clothing, and a teal-haired karakasa with a purple umbrella, and they ask about why you're here, tell them you're waiting for me, okay? They'll understand."

[Hello Purvis]

> "Thank you. Don't be afraid to check in to see if anyone is home. There may also be some other people around that don't live here. If you see a blonde youkai in brown clothing, a blue-haired kappa in green clothing, and a teal-haired karakasa with a purple umbrella, and they ask about why you're here, tell them you're waiting for me, okay? They'll understand."

>"Aye aye!" says Chen.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Nod.
> "I will be back soon."
> Leave Chen at the house and head back to the poltergeist meeting place, being sure to arrive with a frown.

[Hello Purvis]

> Nod.
> "I will be back soon."
> Leave Chen at the house and head back to the poltergeist meeting place, being sure to arrive with a frown.

>"Kay," says Chen.
>You head back to the stream. The poltergeist steps from around a tree and looks at you expectantly.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Frown.
> "I have learned a few things, and I imagine most will not be particularly pleasing. The first is that Lady Yakumo would definitely not like to try to fix any border-related problems over a distance that anyone happens to have."

[Hello Purvis]

> Frown.
> "I have learned a few things, and I imagine most will not be particularly pleasing. The first is that Lady Yakumo would definitely not like to try to fix any border-related problems over a distance that anyone happens to have."

>She frowns. "We'll just have to see, then."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "The second is that she reminded me of a unique event that happened several years ago, when the Sanzu River's shikigami took some unexpected time off from her job and souls built up here in Gensokyo, unable to cross the river to be judged. The Yama herself appeared in Gensokyo, and gave some life-improving advice the the musician poltergeists I mentioned before. It is extremely uncommon for the Yama to appear in Gensokyo, as she normally waits for people to die to judge their souls. Now, the good news for you is that this very, very strongly suggests poltergeists are not actually judged by the Yama when they die, so you seem to have avoided that."

[Hello Purvis]

> "The second is that she reminded me of a unique event that happened several years ago, when the Sanzu River's shikigami took some unexpected time off from her job and souls built up here in Gensokyo, unable to cross the river to be judged. The Yama herself appeared in Gensokyo, and gave some life-improving advice the the musician poltergeists I mentioned before. It is extremely uncommon for the Yama to appear in Gensokyo, as she normally waits for people to die to judge their souls. Now, the good news for you is that this very, very strongly suggests poltergeists are not actually judged by the Yama when they die, so you seem to have avoided that."

>She nods. "I suppose there's nothing to be done about that either way."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Right. But the bad news is that it limits the possibilities of what would happen. It is possible you would reincarnate as a lesser being, like a bird, or an animal..."
> Gently bite lower lip.
> "...but it is more likely that you will...simply cease to exist in any capacity."

[Hello Purvis]

> "Right. But the bad news is that it limits the possibilities of what would happen. It is possible you would reincarnate as a lesser being, like a bird, or an animal..."
> Gently bite lower lip.
> "...but it is more likely that you will...simply cease to exist in any capacity."

>She nods. "I know."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "So we need to make sure that doesn't happen. Now, the third thing...Lady Yakumo's take on the messenger idea was that 'it would not do' for me to perform the task. She wants one of her shikigami to do it instead."

[Hello Purvis]

> "So we need to make sure that doesn't happen. Now, the third thing...Lady Yakumo's take on the messenger idea was that 'it would not do' for me to perform the task. She wants one of her shikigami to do it instead."

>The poltergeist frowns. "I...suppose I can just leave messages out and hide."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Stare silently at the poltergeist for a couple of seconds.
> Heave a deep sigh and bow our head.
> "...Very well."

[Hello Purvis]

> Stare silently at the poltergeist for a couple of seconds.
> Heave a deep sigh and bow our head.
> "...Very well."

>She nods. "Did you get me something to write with?"

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Pull out the Basic Writing Tools.
> Slowly walk over to the poltergeist and offer them to her without looking at her.

[Hello Purvis]

> Pull out the Basic Writing Tools.
> Slowly walk over to the poltergeist and offer them to her without looking at her.

>She takes them without hesitation. "Thank you."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Sad frown.
> Wordlessly turn and walk away, toward a tree across the area from where the poltergeist stands.
> Sit down at the base of it and hug our knees to our chest.

[Hello Purvis]

> Sad frown.
> Wordlessly turn and walk away, toward a tree across the area from where the poltergeist stands.
> Sit down at the base of it and hug our knees to our chest.

>You're not sure if she notices your general disappointment. You hear a brush being drug across paper, though. It doesn't seem like she's hesitating much, either. She must already know what she wants to say.
>After a couple minutes she approaches you with a piece of folded paper. "Here. And tell whoever the messenger is to leave them here, and I'll get them, and place my replies there when I'm done."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Look up at her with a sad expression for a couple of seconds, then look at the paper and extend a hand out for it.

[Hello Purvis]

> Look up at her with a sad expression for a couple of seconds, then look at the paper and extend a hand out for it.

>She hands it to you.
>"Thank you."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Slowly stand up and walk back to where Chen was.