Nue Quest 4th Ignition: A Z-Machine Adventure

[Hello Purvis]

> "She nicked my cards, on the orders of some mysterious force. She couldn't outright tell me she or they are responsible for the money situation, she's contractually obligated or something. Apparently they'll know the instant she blabs. She lost my cards somewhere in the village, though, and is now in hiding away from this force, because she couldn't complete her delivery."

>Byakuren frowns. "Poor thing. How did she get into such a state?"

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Frown apprehensively.
> Look around. Is there an audience of villagers?

[Hello Purvis]

> Frown apprehensively.
> Look around. Is there an audience of villagers?

>The people who were paying attention seem to have dispersed.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Turn back to Byakuren.
> "Apparently this mysterious force...I don't know the details, but she described it as "returning a favor". She said she didn't know she even owed this favor, and that she found out 'the hard way'. Apparently there are many others in Gensokyo that owe this force 'a favor', whatever the hell that means, and they don't even know it. Enough that she was confident trying to raise an army of big Gensokyo names wouldn't work against this force because so many of them would somehow be forced to do this force's bidding. And...it sounds like you and I, along with the others, we're very likely all included on that list."

Need to go to bed. Couple pointers/ideas.

- If there is anyone other than Byakuren (and Unzan I guess) within earshot, it is best not to mention Tewi's name, or where we plan on going. The villagers are angry; probably angry enough to want to go out and kick some ass should they get any useful info on who or where, and we don't need a herd of non-magic humans getting wiped off the face of the earth by this force.
- Before we leave the human village to go underground and check on our home and see if Utsuho ever returned, I would like to swing by the jeweler's shop again, because I would like to ask Little Buddy Shuuei if she can/wants to join us on our adventure. She might have the day pseudo-off due to the circumstances, so Ichiro may be willing to part with her for a day, especially since he knows we're good. I don't want to grab her until we're ready to meet up with Mystia again, though. There's no reason to drag her around with us underground. (It might also be worth asking the ESP folks if they can spare a person for our party.)

[Hello Purvis]

> Turn back to Byakuren.
> "Apparently this mysterious force...I don't know the details, but she described it as "returning a favor". She said she didn't know she even owed this favor, and that she found out 'the hard way'. Apparently there are many others in Gensokyo that owe this force 'a favor', whatever the hell that means, and they don't even know it. Enough that she was confident trying to raise an army of big Gensokyo names wouldn't work against this force because so many of them would somehow be forced to do this force's bidding. And...it sounds like you and I, along with the others, we're very likely all included on that list."

>Byakuren frowns. "Nue, you understand, while I give my my full confidence, that is rather hard to believe. Do you know anything else about it?"

>_

[GuyYouMetOnline]

>"I have my own doubts about her story, but I know fear when I see it, and she's certainly scared of something. Although she wasn't completely helpless; she was able to drop a few hints."

[Hello Purvis]

>"I have my own doubts about her story, but I know fear when I see it, and she's certainly scared of something. Although she wasn't completely helpless; she was able to drop a few hints."

>Byakuren nods. "Then I suppose there is no reason to doubt it, if you are convinced. What did she say?"

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "She asked me why she would betray her Princess like this, were she guilty. And then she later admitted she had taken my cards, to show that she was guilty, at least in some respect."

[E-Nazrin]

Don't forget about the dream, and especially the connection of it 'becoming broken' in what looked like the Forest of Magic, where Unzan directed us upon being asked about that sensation. Maybe ask about any nature-of-magic connections there might be between him and Ran, in case there's a common thread to draw from.

EDIT: Oh yeah.

>What's our take on humans, in general?

[Kilgamayan]

Haven't forgotten about that stuff, nope. But that's not what Byakuren asked about. :V

[Hello Purvis]

> "She asked me why she would betray her Princess like this, were she guilty. And then she later admitted she had taken my cards, to show that she was guilty, at least in some respect."

>Byakuren nods. "I have have heard she is prone to deception." She frowns. "So, how did she lose your spellcards? That seems remarkably careless of her, given what you've said about her being compelled by such a force."

>What's our take on humans, in general?

>You have no problems with them, by and large, though the more faithful ones can be highly irritating. When you were very youth, you had a tendency to look down on anyone who wasn't an Ainu, but you grew out of it. after experiencing the world a bit. Not that this stopped you from robbing or messing with anyone that you felt like.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "I've been trying to figure that one out myself. She noticed they were gone at the same time everyone noticed their money was gone. She had just come out of the tavern when it happened."
> "It is also true that she's deceptive, but part of her story seems to corroborate with more reliable sources. Her claimed meeting place with this force two days ago seems to be roughly the same place where Unzan felt the energy needed for yesterday's shenanigans come from."

[Hello Purvis]

> "I've been trying to figure that one out myself. She noticed they were gone at the same time everyone noticed their money was gone. She had just come out of the tavern when it happened."
> "It is also true that she's deceptive, but part of her story seems to corroborate with more reliable sources. Her claimed meeting place with this force two days ago seems to be roughly the same place where Unzan felt the energy needed for yesterday's shenanigans come from."

>Byakuren nods. "Did she notice they were missing at exactly the same time, or around the same time?"

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "I believe it was right after. Possibly even during."

If someone not at work knows that's wrong, feel free to correct it.

[Hello Purvis]

> "I believe it was right after. Possibly even during."

>"The latter would imply a direct connection between the two, I suspect," says Byakuren. "The latter suggests that the two things weren't directly related. That said...I find myself doubting a direct connection at this point."

>_

[GuyYouMetOnline]

>"At this point, I'm fairly certain they are related; there's just too many connections for it to be a coincidence. I may just be that the same... being is responsible for both, but that's still a relation. The question is why my spellcards would be desired."
>Is it possible for somone to use another's spellcards?

[Hello Purvis]

>"At this point, I'm fairly certain they are related; there's just too many connections for it to be a coincidence. I may just be that the same... being is responsible for both, but that's still a relation. The question is why my spellcards would be desired."
>Is it possible for somone to use another's spellcards?

>Byakuren nods. "I suppose it depends on the nature of the relation."
>Almost never. Spellcards are highly personal things that draw from one's own powers and experiences. Two people would have to be very strongly alike to swap spellcards. However, it is possible to use someone else's spellcards as templates to develop one of your own, if they are somewhat similar to one's own abilities.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "If they are related, then all the more reason for me to investigate. But I'll soon be headed in that direction regardless, just to put a stop to this nonsense. I enjoy not living in a city full of angry facebreakers."

[Hello Purvis]

> "If they are related, then all the more reason for me to investigate. But I'll soon be headed in that direction regardless, just to put a stop to this nonsense. I enjoy not living in a city full of angry facebreakers."

>Byakuren nods. "Is there anything I could do to help?"

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "I'm assuming you don't have any hands available to spare, so the best thing is to probably keep doing what you're doing with the folks here. Keep spirits as high as you can. Tell them a point of origin for this problem has likely been found, but that I'm off with a small, select group of people to see if we can fix things and we're not to be followed. Don't tell them where we're going. These people will be sitting ducks over there if what I've heard about this force is true."

[Hello Purvis]

> "I'm assuming you don't have any hands available to spare, so the best thing is to probably keep doing what you're doing with the folks here. Keep spirits as high as you can. Tell them a point of origin for this problem has likely been found, but that I'm off with a small, select group of people to see if we can fix things and we're not to be followed. Don't tell them where we're going. These people will be sitting ducks over there if what I've heard about this force is true."

>"Alright," says Byakuren. "I'll try to pass that along discreetly"

>_

[GuyYouMetOnline]

>"You know, on second thought, don't say that it's me. Don't give any names. At least, not until I've got the force together. I don't want to draw this thing's attention to myself before I'm ready."
>"And as for Tewi's concern about it calling in some favors to turn us against each other, well, if it can do that, it'll do it whenever anyone goes after it. And with a group, we may just be able to help each other fight whatever it'll try to do. In fact, it might be a good idea to bring in an expert in the mind. May be worth asking Satori; I kind of want to check on things underground anyways, and hey, the worst she can do is say 'no', right?"
>Do we know of anyone besides Satori who might be considered a 'mental expert'?

[Hello Purvis]

>"You know, on second thought, don't say that it's me. Don't give any names. At least, not until I've got the force together. I don't want to draw this thing's attention to myself before I'm ready."
>"And as for Tewi's concern about it calling in some favors to turn us against each other, well, if it can do that, it'll do it whenever anyone goes after it. And with a group, we may just be able to help each other fight whatever it'll try to do. In fact, it might be a good idea to bring in an expert in the mind. May be worth asking Satori; I kind of want to check on things underground anyways, and hey, the worst she can do is say 'no', right?"
>Do we know of anyone besides Satori who might be considered a 'mental expert'?

>"I think it may be a bad idea to gather any kind of force, if Tewi is so certain it would be a problem and you're willing to accept the other things she has been saying," says Byakuren. "And, I'm afraid not."
>There is the other Koimeiji sibling, but you have no idea where you would find her, or what sort of person she is.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

For the record, Satori is demonstrably incredibly unwilling to leave her home. She practically had to be dragged above ground to meet her sister, and I suspect this isn't as important to her as that was.

> "I suppose that may be true. Though there's one in particular that might be useful. Do you know if the jeweler's shop is staffed right now? I think I wouldn't mind having the ghost kid around with me."

[Hello Purvis]

> "I suppose that may be true. Though there's one in particular that might be useful. Do you know if the jeweler's shop is staffed right now? I think I wouldn't mind having the ghost kid around with me."

>"I'm not sure," says Byakuren. "She comes and goes of her own will, as I understand."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "I'll have to swing by the shop before I leave for the underground, then. Hopefully she'll be around. She's probably too naive and too loyal to Nagae to think about betraying anyone, regardless of what's in store."

[Hello Purvis]

> "I'll have to swing by the shop before I leave for the underground, then. Hopefully she'll be around. She's probably too naive and too loyal to Nagae to think about betraying anyone, regardless of what's in store."

>Byakuren nods. "It's not too far out of the way, if nothing else. Do you think she'll be of any assistance?"

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "She seems to be good at being mysterious. If nothing else, she might be useful as someone that can get away should things turn south. And she has friends in very high places, if you'll pardon the pun. But I'll try to find out more about her herself when I ask her."

[Hello Purvis]

> "She seems to be good at being mysterious. If nothing else, she might be useful as someone that can get away should things turn south. And she has friends in very high places, if you'll pardon the pun. But I'll try to find out more about her herself when I ask her."

>"I wish you the best," says Byakuren. "If I could offer more, I would, but the situation hasn't allowed me to investigate much."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Right. Don't worry, I got this. And there are people that know approximately where I'm going, just in case."