Nue Quest: A Z-Machine Adventure

[Fightest]

>You suspect it is an attempt at being diplomatic rather than outright calling you a liar and attempting to bash your face in.
>"I did," she says, "It's right there on your zoggin' bar, isn't it now? Better than anything anyone else came with, I'd bet! And even though you went an' bloody well said it was okay the first time, now it looks like you're trying to go back on it, and tell me you ain't! So what makes that good enough and this not, huh? That's what I want to know."

>_

> Shouldn't have taken that cobblestone.
> Damage control.
> Can't get out of this without lying, unless anyone has any bright ideas.
> "That particular rock was worthless by itself, however, it had some of the valuable stuff encrusted on it. So I accepted it."
> Have we drawn up the reference sheet yet? If so, show her the sheet.
> "See? Brown and shiny. Worth something. Your brick has none of that. Not worth something."

[Kilgamayan]

Gosh Kilga, if you want to call me out on something, just say it straight. Point taken, however, I don't actually want to be hanging about trading booze for too long, either.

It was intended to be general due to the number of different people we have participating in this one. Also because I remembered someone else (Sect?) helping advance this line in a manner that suggested they knew what was going on. :V

Did a little bit of musing while out for a very temporary drive to work (whoops they don't actually need me today!). Rather than claim the cobblestone has some stuff on it that the brick doesn't, I might suggest claiming we think we can get something for the cobblestone while we won't be able to for the brick. This may well still be a lie, but it's a bluff far less likely to be called, because it's nothing for them to ask us to show them exactly what the difference is, while they're far less likely to travel above ground and stake out the local economy. Alternatively, we could accept a small loss in profit in the name of preventing anger and aggression in our bar and take the brick for another cheap drink, then state that this is the last time and make a sign that details exactly what we are and aren't accepting (and also apologizes for the confusion).

[Fightest]

Alternatively, we could accept a small loss in profit in the name of preventing anger and aggression in our bar and take the brick for another cheap drink, then state that this is the last time and make a sign that details exactly what we are and aren't accepting (and also apologizes for the confusion).

Not too sure about this one - it sets a bad precedent for the next oni who walks in with a roof tile. Your first option I do not object to, but I think it gives the oni a bit too much leeway in argument. With the "cobblestone has gems in it" lie, worst comes to worst, we can use a seed of nonidentification to give it that appearance. That, however, is using more resources than I'd be comfortable with.

[Kilgamayan]

If you don't want to use those resources, what will you do instead if they call our bluff?

[Sect]

Also because I remembered someone else (Sect?) helping advance this line in a manner that suggested they knew what was going on. :V

Yeah, that's my fault: there was a few things I intended to add, but got sidetracked along the way. Not that I know what's going on more than anyone, really, but writing notes could've made things a bit easier and prevented screwups.

Anyways, for this oni, just give her a drink: if we say that the cobblestone was valuable to us in some way, then we'll have more oni coming up to us with random shit and saying "hey, is THIS valuable to you?", causing more headaches than we need.

Also, we need to find a way to get into contact with our usual helpers. Probably see if one of the oni would be willing to do us a favor and do a bit of running for us.

... Or, we can combine the two. Tell the oni: "No, sorry, we won't accept bricks or rocks anymore, it was just a misunderstanding, but hey! if you do me a favor and find such and such person for me, then I'll give you a bottle in return..." Though, we'll also need to update the list to show how much each gem is worth, for their convenience.

[GuyYouMetOnline]

You know what? Honesty's the best policy, right? So let's be honest:

>"Actually, I took that first one because, well, everyone's been calling the beads and gems and such rocks, so, hey, innocent misunderstanding. That's why I was more specific when you walked up."
>"But, well, I guess I can understand where you're coming from. As soon as I have a moment, I'm going to make a sign saying what precicely I'll be accepting."
>Hand her a bottle of something in the 10-20☼ range.
>"In fact, how about doing me a little favor? I'll get the sign done, but while I'm doing that, could I get you to just tell people I'll be ready in a minute?"

[Hello Purvis]

> Shouldn't have taken that cobblestone.
> Damage control.
> Can't get out of this without lying, unless anyone has any bright ideas.
> "That particular rock was worthless by itself, however, it had some of the valuable stuff encrusted on it. So I accepted it."
> Have we drawn up the reference sheet yet? If so, show her the sheet.
> "See? Brown and shiny. Worth something. Your brick has none of that. Not worth something."

>"Actually, I took that first one because, well, everyone's been calling the beads and gems and such rocks, so, hey, innocent misunderstanding. That's why I was more specific when you walked up."
>"But, well, I guess I can understand where you're coming from. As soon as I have a moment, I'm going to make a sign saying what precicely I'll be accepting."
>Hand her a bottle of something in the 10-20☼ range.
>"In fact, how about doing me a little favor? I'll get the sign done, but while I'm doing that, could I get you to just tell people I'll be ready in a minute?"

>You decide to be honest enough.
>"Huh, alright then," says the oni, seeming to be mollified as you hand her a cheap bottle. "This mean you'll be taking other beads, too?"

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Yep. Glad I've studied them as much as I have, it may just keep me in business."
> Do we have the material for such a sign?

[Hello Purvis]

> "Yep. Glad I've studied them as much as I have, it may just keep me in business."
> Do we have the material for such a sign?

>"Well, that's alright then," says the oni.
>You have some large sheets of paper upstairs, it shouldn't be difficult to run up and get it.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "All right. I'll be right back, gonna go make that sign so people know what they're in for."

[Hello Purvis]

> "All right. I'll be right back, gonna go make that sign so people know what they're in for."

>The oni nods, as she starts on her drink.

>_

[Fightest]

>You decide to be honest enough.
>"Huh, alright then," says the oni, seeming to be mollified as you hand her a cheap bottle. "This mean you'll be taking other beads, too?"

>_

Huh, it worked! Good call.

>The oni nods, as she starts on her drink.

>_

> Make sign as quickly and accurately as possible.

[Hello Purvis]

> Make sign as quickly and accurately as possible.

>You dash upstairs, grab a large piece of paper you typically use for making clothing patterns, clean away the dust, and hurry downstairs.
>What will this sign say?
>As you're working on it, you hear one of the oni gathered around the plum wine say, "So I had a peek toward the market, and it's silent a crypt over there!"

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Write "We accept gems and beads at our appraisal value. We do not accept other rocks. Our apologies for any confusion or inconvenience. - The Management" on the sign.
> Set the sign up in an obvious location and listen in on this conversation about the market.

[Hello Purvis]

> Write "We accept gems and beads at our appraisal value. We do not accept other rocks. Our apologies for any confusion or inconvenience. - The Management" on the sign.
> Set the sign up in an obvious location and listen in on this conversation about the market.

>You make your sign in large, friendly letters and put it up in the window. Hopefully that will dissuade some confusion, and advertise a bit more.
>Listening in while you put up the sign, another oni asks, "So what happened?"
>"Well it's not like I zoggin' well went there, was it now? I was on my way here!"

>_

[communist unity (comm-unity)]

Well, I think the idea of staying at the pub was a pretty poor one. Out of all the places to investigate (earth palace, rabbit place, rest of gensokyo) or things to do, we chose the worst one.

Honesty is indeed the best policy for people who could probably destroy a house in a single punch. <_<
As fun as it would be to rip the oni off, they're probably wise to those sort of deceptions and getting caught won't do any favors.

[Kilgamayan]

> Return back behind the bar.
> "Wonder if they got hit by the same person that hit all of us?"

[Hello Purvis]

> Return back behind the bar.
> "Wonder if they got hit by the same person that hit all of us?"

>You get back to your post, while another oni comes inside.
>"There'd be people there, right?" says one of the group. "Y'know, all the time? They'd see it, right?"
>"Didn't zoggin' well see who got me!" says the oni that came in with the cobblestone.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Think the bridge princess might've seen someone? Or maybe Satori, if whoever did this decided to have a go at her place."

[Hello Purvis]

> "Think the bridge princess might've seen someone? Or maybe Satori, if whoever did this decided to have a go at her place."

>"Might have," says your first customer, as the newcomer approaches the bar and places a pearl on the counter. It seems to be freshwater pearl, not worth any more than 7 or 8☼.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Nod and take the pearl.
> Give the pearl-possessing customer another 10☼ drink.
> Where are we keeping what we're getting "paid", anyway?
> "Someone should probably go ask them. Maybe the Buddhists in the clinic, too. Though I suppose the bridge princess was probably the first place Yuugi would have went, assuming everyone got hit."

[Hello Purvis]

> Nod and take the pearl.
> Give the pearl-possessing customer another 10☼ drink.
> Where are we keeping what we're getting "paid", anyway?
> "Someone should probably go ask them. Maybe the Buddhists in the clinic, too. Though I suppose the bridge princess was probably the first place Yuugi would have went, assuming everyone got hit."

>You obtain: Freshwater Pearl x1
>You give the oni a drink.
>So far, you've been putting them with the rest of the gems and such you've been carrying.
>"Wouldn't know where Yuugi went," says one of the oni.
>"Might've been the bridge," says another.
>"What's the clinic got to worry about?" asks another. "Not like they take money, is it?"
>"Donations."
>"Oh, right you are."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "The clinic also might know if anything's going on topside. Who knows, that info could be worth something."

[Hello Purvis]

> "The clinic also might know if anything's going on topside. Who knows, that info could be worth something."

>"Stands to reason," says the oni you recognized from the crowd.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> How far is the clinic from where we are?

[Hello Purvis]

> How far is the clinic from where we are?

>It's maybe a ten minute walk. Five minutes by air, three if you hustle.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Would we trust a crowd of oni unattended in our establishment for about 15 minutes, or would we need someone to watch the place?
> If the latter, who do we have readily handy for such a task?

[Hello Purvis]

>You doubt they'll rob you, at least. There's a chance a fight might break out, given how tense people are today. But largely, you think you could probably spare 15 minutes and get away with it. The worst you'd come back to are impatient customers, probably.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Frown and raise voice a bit.
> "I think I may want to talk to the clinic. Will you lot be okay by yourselves for about 20 minutes?"

[Hello Purvis]

> Frown and raise voice a bit.
> "I think I may want to talk to the clinic. Will you lot be okay by yourselves for about 20 minutes?"

>"Don't take too long!" says the group with the plum wine, "We're gonna need another round in a bit!"

>_