Nue Quest 4th Ignition: A Z-Machine Adventure

[Hello Purvis]

> Inventory

>Your inventory contains:
>Black dress
>A short number that draws attention low, and has a lovely bit of frills around the neck. It's made to accommodate your wings, and is is quite stretchy, very useful when you need to change shapes on the fly.
>Black Stockings
>They keep your legs warm and clean. They can stretch to accommodate some shape changes.
>Black Bracelet
>A simple accessory that plays off the asymmetry of your natural form.
>Red shoes
>A cute pair of shoes that stand out against your stockings.
>Rose Quartz x2
>A common gem with a pinkish hue. Worth about 15-25☼.
>Black Pearl x2
>A rare and precious kind of pearl, easily worth 100-130☼.
>Red Spinel x2
>A lovely but low value gem that the uninitiated may mistake for a ruby. Worth 50-80☼.
>Green Glass Bead x15
>Cheaply made, but kind of pretty. Worth 1☼. at most, and you'd quickly expect a bulk discount.
>Loose Cobblestone
>This seems to have been taken from the streets of the Ancient City
> Seeds of Nonidentification x2
>These snake-shaped seeds allow you to cloak people and objects in powerful illusions.
>Brown Jasper
>An ornamental gem worth 30-40☼
>Aventurine
>A greenish stone that worth 20-25☼.
>Banded Agate
>A layered stone you would value at 7-11☼ 
>Carnelian
>A common brownish red decorative stone that you price at 7-11☼
>Hand Mirror
>A small sturdy mirror for on the go use.
>Trident
>Your trusty weapon and fishing tool.
>Broken Sword Blade
>Wrapped in cloth, and bearing odd glyphs on its blade.
>Broken Broadsword Handle
>This seems to be the handle of a broadsword, with about an inch and a half of blade.
>Riceball x3
>Filled with grilled vegetables and wrapped in cloth.
>Mahogany Scrap
>A bit of wood about two inches long and a quarter inch thick.
>Black Skirt
>A knee-length skirt to made your dress, for when you need to be larger than modesty would allow in your normal attire.
>Jeweler's Scope
>An eyepiece used to see the fine details of gems; indispensable for cutting gems.
>Lockpicks Masquerading as a Pocket Clay Sculpting Set
>You suppose they could sculpt clay, too...
>Tewi's Dress
>A pink dress belonging to Tewi Inaba. It is full of wrinkles due to rough treatment.

[Kilgamayan]

> So the wine stock doesn't look like Nazrin got a whole lot, then?

[Hello Purvis]

> So the wine stock doesn't look like Nazrin got a whole lot, then?

>So it seems.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Search the gem pile for another low-value pearl, since that freshwater pearl in our inventory got fried by Patchouli.

[Hello Purvis]

> Search the gem pile for another low-value pearl, since that freshwater pearl in our inventory got fried by Patchouli.

>You look in the cash box, and quickly find one.
>You obtain: Freshwater Pearl

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Leave our pub and head to the Palace of the Earth Spirits.

[Hello Purvis]

> Leave our pub and head to the Palace of the Earth Spirits.

>You leave the pub behind and head toward the Palace of the Earth Spirits. How will you be proceeding?

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> We need to save some time. Let's just take the straight route and fly there.

[Hello Purvis]

> We need to save some time. Let's just take the straight route and fly there.

>You take to the air and fly toward the palace.
>By and large, the streets below are quiet. You see some oni moving around, but not too many. Still, it's more active than the human village was. As you draw close to the Palace, you note that there seems to be a group not too far from it, maybe a dozen or so oni, very clearly in the midst of a brawl. The Palace itself looks the same as it did yesterday.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Head to the front door and knock.

[Hello Purvis]

> Head to the front door and knock.

>You head to the doors of the huge, ivy-covered manor and knock.
>As you wait for someone to answer, you keep an uneasy eye on the brawl down the road. So far, the oni don't seem like they're getting any closer, nor does anyone else seem to be joining in. However, given how oni are and given the circumstances, it is well within the realm of possibility for things to move this way or for it to swell out of control.
>After a minute, the door opens just wide enough, and you hear the Kasha's say "Get in, quick!"

>_

[Rin Kagamine]

> Go in, quick!

[Kilgamayan]

Oh God, I completely missed that brawl in that post. Whoops.

[Hello Purvis]

> Go in, quick!

>You slip inside as quickly as you can, and the kasha slams the door shut quickly enough that she nearly clips your wings.
>"What happened?" she says, as she secures the door again.

>_

[Rin Kagamine]

> "That's exactly what I wanted to ask you.  That silence is positively chilling."

[E-Nazrin]

>Is the Ancient City usually asleep at this hour?

[Hello Purvis]

> "That's exactly what I wanted to ask you.  That silence is positively chilling."

>"I think most of the music makers are indisposed," says Orin.

>Is the Ancient City usually asleep at this hour?

>As much as it ever sleeps. There's activity at all times, even for night time, it's rather quiet.

>_

[Rin Kagamine]

> "I've gotten some new information that helps the investigation, but I don't have any solid leads on who is responsible."
> "Where is Satori?  If possible I'd like to tell the two of you at the same time."

[Hello Purvis]

> "I've gotten some new information that helps the investigation, but I don't have any solid leads on who is responsible."
> "Where is Satori?  If possible I'd like to tell the two of you at the same time."

>"Oh," says Orin. "She should be in the garden right now. This way."
>She starts toward the doors at the end of the hall. "Things aren't too bad, then?"

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "It's...complicated. Out of curiosity, has Utsuho been home since yesterday?"

[Hello Purvis]

> "It's...complicated. Out of curiosity, has Utsuho been home since yesterday?"

>Orin leads you through the main hall, with all of its columns, and past a flock of birds playing around on the floor. She takes you past the hall with the two staircases leading to the second floor, and toward the door in the rear, which hangs open. Past it, you can see all kinds of leafy greenery.
>"She hasn't," says Orin. "I hope she figured out it would be better to stay on the surface than to risk coming back."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Well. I went to a place that the outside world girls said she might be, and banging on the door got no answer. Then I learned that at least one person in Gensokyo has been forced to abandon and probably even betray their house by the force most likely responsible for the jewels. And apparently there are plenty more in Gensokyo that are vulnerable to similar coercion. And they don't even know it."

[Hello Purvis]

> "Well. I went to a place that the outside world girls said she might be, and banging on the door got no answer. Then I learned that at least one person in Gensokyo has been forced to abandon and probably even betray their house by the force most likely responsible for the jewels. And apparently there are plenty more in Gensokyo that are vulnerable to similar coercion. And they don't even know it."

>You speak as Orin leads you into the leafy garden. You can see snakes moving between the plants and here a couple of birds singing. Unlike the flowers in Eientei's garden, much of what is here is more akin to the Forest of Magic, you imagine that is its purpose. Looking around, you can see Satori sitting on a bench near a couple of bushes, reading while a kitten plays at her feet.
>"That sounds pretty bad," says Orin, as she walks toward the bench.
>Satori looks up from her book and frowns, then looks to you.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Yeah. I'm hoping Utsuho didn't get hit too."

[Hello Purvis]

> "Yeah. I'm hoping Utsuho didn't get hit too."

>"Yeah," says Orin.
>Satori looks at you for a moment, before saying, "Things seem to have gotten very complicated. Have a seat, please."
>"I'll be upstairs if you need me," says Orin, as she walks off.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Have a seat.
> "Do you happen to have any ideas? I'll admit I'd feel a lot better knowing Utsuho wasn't hit the same way the other one was."

[Hello Purvis]

> Have a seat.
> "Do you happen to have any ideas? I'll admit I'd feel a lot better knowing Utsuho wasn't hit the same way the other one was."

>"Your thoughts are a bit jumbled," says Satori. "So it is a little difficult to fully understand the situation right now. What kind of ideas are you asking for?"

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Hmm, alright. Do you have any ideas for contacting Utsuho?"

[Hello Purvis]

> "Hmm, alright. Do you have any ideas for contacting Utsuho?"

>Satori closes her eyes. "That puts me in a difficult spot. I am quite sure that I know where she is supposed to be. But, she has never directly told me this. You understand, I hope?"

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Right. It doesn't matter whether or not I know where she's supposed to be, only that I know she has or hasn't been forced into betrayal."