Iku Quest Edi'nayset: A Z-Machine Adventure.

[Hello Purvis]

> "All right. Ideally, this plan will entail me distracting them away from their own shadows, at which point you can pin them where they stand and take their shadows without risk of repercussion. I will not pretend that the two people in mind are pushovers. They both know how to fight quite well, and one of them can even stop time. Is there a specific manner in which you need to stand on them so that they cannot move?"

>"I just need to put my weight on them," she says. "But the more firmly I can, the better. I don't know if they'll be able to escape, I've never really gone after anyone particularly strong."

> Where did we leave Tenshi and did we say we were going to meet her somewhere?

>Tenshi left to go investigate the islands, and maybe snag the flags from them. You're supposed to meet her somewhere.

>_

[GuyYouMetOnline]

>"I would advise moving quickly, then. Now, here's a tentative plan: I believe I have a way to distract them sufficiently for you to sneak into their shadows, but once in them, you will need to act quickly. Also, you may very well have to choose between the two's shadows; it's unlikely you'll be able to reach both simultaniously. Your priority should be Sakuya, the one who can stop time. She'll be the one with silver hair; Meiling's is red. I should have her distracted long enough for you to reach her shadow and pin her in place. Once you have her shadow, go for Meiling's. you won't have the same advantage of surprise, but once you strike at Sakuya, I'd expect a battle to begin. I will ensure that Meiling is occupied. I'll likely have Tenshi do it; Meiling's probably eager for a chance at payback. I can hold Remilia off; I've beaten her before. Once you have both shadows, I'll signal a stop to the fighting. Now, it is possible that Remilia will conclude that she can restore them by killing you, so once you have Meiling's shadow, go for Remilia's. Don't take it; just pin her down so she can't try anything."
>"Now, I would say there's a fairly high likelyhood of things not going exactly as planned. Some improvization is likely to be necessary. You just focus on the shadows; if I need you to do anything else, I'll let you know."
>"Also, there may very well be changes made to the plan between now and when we put it into action, but don't worry; I'll make sure you're informed."

And by the way, the distraction I have in mind is the rant to Remilia that I mentioned previously. What I've got in mind for that is fairly certain to keep their attention.

[Hello Purvis]

>"I would advise moving quickly, then. Now, here's a tentative plan: I believe I have a way to distract them sufficiently for you to sneak into their shadows, but once in them, you will need to act quickly. Also, you may very well have to choose between the two's shadows; it's unlikely you'll be able to reach both simultaniously. Your priority should be Sakuya, the one who can stop time. She'll be the one with silver hair; Meiling's is red. I should have her distracted long enough for you to reach her shadow and pin her in place. Once you have her shadow, go for Meiling's. you won't have the same advantage of surprise, but once you strike at Sakuya, I'd expect a battle to begin. I will ensure that Meiling is occupied. I'll likely have Tenshi do it; Meiling's probably eager for a chance at payback. I can hold Remilia off; I've beaten her before. Once you have both shadows, I'll signal a stop to the fighting. Now, it is possible that Remilia will conclude that she can restore them by killing you, so once you have Meiling's shadow, go for Remilia's. Don't take it; just pin her down so she can't try anything."
>"Now, I would say there's a fairly high likelyhood of things not going exactly as planned. Some improvization is likely to be necessary. You just focus on the shadows; if I need you to do anything else, I'll let you know."
>"Also, there may very well be changes made to the plan between now and when we put it into action, but don't worry; I'll make sure you're informed."

>She nods. "Focus on the silver-haired one first. Alright."

>_

[Shadoweh]

We might not get to be choosey but I'm pretty sure Kilga wants to ambush them one at a time.

[GuyYouMetOnline]

Well, then my plan's what we can go with if they come at us as a group. Which, given what we've got Tenshi doing, is the situation I'm expecting.

[Kilgamayan]

> What did Amaya look like again?
> "Of course, if we manage to get to them one at a time, then things become a lot easier. Getting the gatekeeper, if she is alone or accompanied by another celestial, will be a simpler affair, as she will have no reason to suspect something is amiss. What you should do is hide behind the corner of the outer mansion wall in the direction shadows are being cast, so that if she were facing away from her own shadow, she would also be facing away from you. I will keep her distracted and looking away from her own shadow, so you can run up behind her and take it. Once that is done, escape back the way you came, and hide behind the wall corner again. The other celestial, if she is present, will use their communications device to call for the head maid to come out and investigate. I will position the gatekeeper so that the head maid will have to put her back to her own shadow, and you, in order to look at the incapacitated gatekeeper. Once she starts investigating, you can run up again and take her shadow as well. Once you have both, run back toward your hiding place and wait. I will summon our allies with a bolt of lightning, and negotiations will begin. When they conclude, I will summon you with a second bolt of lightning, aimed more in your general direction but obviously not actually intending to hit you, and you can approach for further instructions."

> Do we have any immediate family members?

[Suwako Moriya]

Just FYI, there's a small character development thing I want to do before Shuuei puts the mask and cloak on, so please don't advance too far without me.

[Kilgamayan]

triple post wheeeee

I'll try to get Wacko on in the middle of this afternoon's shenanigans so that I don't delay things too much. Sorry for asking this.

[Shadoweh]

No problemo, plan looks good and we're in no hurry right?
> "If you get noticed and targetted by either of our targets it's more important for you to dodge their attacks then try to take their shadows. If you get knocked out our plan won't work and if it comes down to it you can take their shadows after we wear them down."

[Hello Purvis]

> What did Amaya look like again?
> "Of course, if we manage to get to them one at a time, then things become a lot easier. Getting the gatekeeper, if she is alone or accompanied by another celestial, will be a simpler affair, as she will have no reason to suspect something is amiss. What you should do is hide behind the corner of the outer mansion wall in the direction shadows are being cast, so that if she were facing away from her own shadow, she would also be facing away from you. I will keep her distracted and looking away from her own shadow, so you can run up behind her and take it. Once that is done, escape back the way you came, and hide behind the wall corner again. The other celestial, if she is present, will use their communications device to call for the head maid to come out and investigate. I will position the gatekeeper so that the head maid will have to put her back to her own shadow, and you, in order to look at the incapacitated gatekeeper. Once she starts investigating, you can run up again and take her shadow as well. Once you have both, run back toward your hiding place and wait. I will summon our allies with a bolt of lightning, and negotiations will begin. When they conclude, I will summon you with a second bolt of lightning, aimed more in your general direction but obviously not actually intending to hit you, and you can approach for further instructions."

> Do we have any immediate family members?

>Fairly thin and green-haired, as you recall.
>"Okay, so not that different from how we snuck in," says the poltergeist.
>No.

> "If you get noticed and targetted by either of our targets it's more important for you to dodge their attacks then try to take their shadows. If you get knocked out our plan won't work and if it comes down to it you can take their shadows after we wear them down."

>"Alright," she says. "I'll try to get away if they attack me."

>_

[Suwako Moriya]

>Smile.
> "I have to admit...that whole ordeal just now, it rather made me feel like a mother hen."

[Hello Purvis]

>Smile.
> "I have to admit...that whole ordeal just now, it rather made me feel like a mother hen."

>"What does that feel like?" asks the poltergeist, frowning.

>_

[Suwako Moriya]

> "A mother hen uses her body to protect her children. It felt like it was my duty to protect my daughter from what she hates more than anything else."

[Hello Purvis]

> "A mother hen uses her body to protect her children. It felt like it was my duty to protect my daughter from what she hates more than anything else."

>She seems fairly bewildered, but she nods regardless.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Given that, I should tell you that I am planning on meeting Tenshi again rather soon, and our designated meeting place was back at my room on one of the floating islands. I would like you to come along for coordination purposes, as it will be important that the two of you are aware of each other's roles in regards to the mansion plan, just in case something goes wrong."

[Hello Purvis]

> "Given that, I should tell you that I am planning on meeting Tenshi again rather soon, and our designated meeting place was back at my room on one of the floating islands. I would like you to come along for coordination purposes, as it will be important that the two of you are aware of each other's roles in regards to the mansion plan, just in case something goes wrong."

>She frowns. "Must I?"

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "We can meet on the ground to avoid the potential crowds instead, if you like."

[Hello Purvis]

> "We can meet on the ground to avoid the potential crowds instead, if you like."

>"Wait, crowds?" She frowns deeply. "Yes, that sounds much better."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "I do not know for sure how many people will be around the island with my bedroom, but it is island that houses The August One, so it is the most important island in all of Bhava-Agra and thus tends to have a lot of people. There may also be curious Gensokyo natives about; I saw a couple earlier today. So yes, there would be that risk. We can meet on the ground instead, then. How about the same place as always?"

[Hello Purvis]

> "I do not know for sure how many people will be around the island with my bedroom, but it is island that houses The August One, so it is the most important island in all of Bhava-Agra and thus tends to have a lot of people. There may also be curious Gensokyo natives about; I saw a couple earlier today. So yes, there would be that risk. We can meet on the ground instead, then. How about the same place as always?"

>She nods. "That would be so much better, yes."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "All right. And you will be able to tolerate Tenshi's presence, dressed as you will be? I imagine she will be able to figure out pretty quickly who you are."

[Hello Purvis]

> "All right. And you will be able to tolerate Tenshi's presence, dressed as you will be? I imagine she will be able to figure out pretty quickly who you are."

>"She doesn't need to see me there, anyways," says the poltergeist.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Frown.
> "Well, all right, but that seems like it sort of defeats the purpose of using this outfit at all."

[Hello Purvis]

> Frown.
> "Well, all right, but that seems like it sort of defeats the purpose of using this outfit at all."

>"It's a fallback, as far as I'm concerned," she says.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Such a shame. I really do think the two of you would get along well, considering the many ways in which you are similar. But I suppose it is like Lady Yakumo says, some is better than none."

[Hello Purvis]

> "Such a shame. I really do think the two of you would get along well, considering the many ways in which you are similar. But I suppose it is like Lady Yakumo says, some is better than none."

>"We'll see," she says. "Speaking of her..."
>She glances toward the curtain outside.
>"Have we asked her everything?"

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Is there any more you wish to know? There are some other questions I wish to ask about Koishi, but not many, and after that, I will be ready to depart if you are."

[Hello Purvis]

> "Is there any more you wish to know? There are some other questions I wish to ask about Koishi, but not many, and after that, I will be ready to depart if you are."

>"I don't think she's really going to open up any new possibilities," says the poltergeist, "So I guess not...I've exposed too much already."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "At least it was not completely without benefit. You now have nigh impenetrable confinement at your disposal, and the question of manifesting a shadow has been answered, even though it was not an answer you liked.  And speaking of things you do not like, I know you are not terribly fond of this, but I can think of no greater demonstration of how proud I am of you and all that you have done since arriving here."
> Give the poltergeist a gentle hug.

[Hello Purvis]

> "At least it was not completely without benefit. You now have nigh impenetrable confinement at your disposal, and the question of manifesting a shadow has been answered, even though it was not an answer you liked.  And speaking of things you do not like, I know you are not terribly fond of this, but I can think of no greater demonstration of how proud I am of you and all that you have done since arriving here."
> Give the poltergeist a gentle hug.

>You give her a hug after summing things up. She stiffens, but she doesn't try to fight you off or anything. "I suppose that is something, at least," she says.

>_