Nue Quest 8 - Pagan: A Z-Machine Adventure

[Hello Purvis]

> "I'm not sure about the actual system, but you could actually talk to the mistress of the netherworld, if her half-ghost swordswoman guard lets you by. I went there yesterday to see if they were affected by what had happened to Gensokyo and had a decent conversation with the guard. Also got to talk to the shinigami ferrywoman for a little bit too, though you'd need her help to talk to any of the judges beyond the river. So any old person can just waltz into the entrances to these places, they just aren't going to get too far unless they have a damn good reason."

>Mamizou translates your explanation. Isolde gives you a curious look as she does, the speaks as Mamizou finishes.
>"She says, "I've never heard of anything like that. The only ones who come and go freely from Annwn are the Hounds and Arawn.' Arawn, if I understand correctly, is the monarch of Annwn. I am unable to tell you much more than that."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "A shame. That sounds rather less pleasant than what we have, assuming the implications of being chased down by supernatural dogs and dragged to the land of the dead are as bad as logic suggests they would be."

[Hello Purvis]

> "A shame. That sounds rather less pleasant than what we have, assuming the implications of being chased down by supernatural dogs and dragged to the land of the dead are as bad as logic suggests they would be."

>Mamizou relays this.  Isolde shrugs, her shoulders peeking over the water and revealing they are covered with light blue cloth. She then speaks.
>"She says, 'I wouldn't pretend to know what the hounds are like, I've never seen them. But sometimes one can hear them baying in spring and fall.'"

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Hmm. Well, what about a group of enlightened people, perhaps living in a city in the sky?"

[Hello Purvis]

> "Hmm. Well, what about a group of enlightened people, perhaps living in a city in the sky?"

>Mamizou repeats this. Isolde frowns and shakes her head, then says a couple words. "'Nothing like that'," says the tanuki.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "I see. Let's change the subject, then, so perhaps I can learn more about this place. Most of my interaction while I've been here has been with Sir Kay. I obviously got an impression of what he thinks of himself from him, but what do other folks think of him?"

[Hello Purvis]

> "I see. Let's change the subject, then, so perhaps I can learn more about this place. Most of my interaction while I've been here has been with Sir Kay. I obviously got an impression of what he thinks of himself from him, but what do other folks think of him?"

>Isolde frowns again as Mamizou translates your question, then begins to speak in lower, more cautious-sounding tones. "'He's dangerous,'" Mamizou says. "'One of the three great Enchanter Knights of Wales. He's fought a number of the Unseelie and won. They say he's even managed to help raid the Unseelie Court as a young man, with some outlaws and King Pendragon before he became king.' I have to confess, I had not heard about such a raid, but if it were true, I imagine it was a quite the scandal among the Seelie and Unseelie."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Really? He seemed content to just brush me off when he figured I was Seelie myself, rather than try to attack me. Now he's covering my bill at the smithery for the reparation of the Bloody Prince's sword, despite having great personal distaste for the guy."

[Hello Purvis]

> "Really? He seemed content to just brush me off when he figured I was Seelie myself, rather than try to attack me. Now he's covering my bill at the smithery for the reparation of the Bloody Prince's sword, despite having great personal distaste for the guy."

>Mamizou translates this. Isolde shrugs and speaks. "'Maybe he didn't think you were worth his time?' Mamizou. "'Or perhaps King Pendragon has calmed him down? He does have the quiet support of Queen Mab.' That would be the queen of the Seelie court, as you likely suspect."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "The last one sounds like a good reason why he might've given me as long a leash as he did. Kinda wonder if he regrets not sending me away immediately now, what with covering the sword repairs and all. Speaking of which, if I may ask given what little history I've heard, what was the Bloody Prince's stance on supernatural people?"

[Hello Purvis]

> "The last one sounds like a good reason why he might've given me as long a leash as he did. Kinda wonder if he regrets not sending me away immediately now, what with covering the sword repairs and all. Speaking of which, if I may ask given what little history I've heard, what was the Bloody Prince's stance on supernatural people?"

>Mamizou relays this. Isolde purses her lips, then speaks. "'I don't think he spared us any real thought,'" Mamizou says. "'Most rulers don't, they take care of their people and so do we. Pendragon is a bit different, though really he hasn't done anything different, but since he's not bad, it's good for everyone.' I would have to agree with that, it seems that most of the gentry generally acts as if we don't exist, while trying not to push issues that would cause conflicts."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "I suppose that's not too bad. Though expansion still seems to be a concern."

[Hello Purvis]

> "I suppose that's not too bad. Though expansion still seems to be a concern."

>Mamizou translates what you said to Isolde. The water spirit says only a few words, which the tanuki translate back: "It always is."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "What about that other guy Sir Kay mentioned...I think it was Sir Percival?"

[Hello Purvis]

> "What about that other guy Sir Kay mentioned...I think it was Sir Percival?"

>Mamizou translates your question. Isolde frowns and shrugs, then speaks. "'I don't know all the knights of the round table,'" Mamizou says. "'I don't think he's been a real problem for us.'  I would add that I, too, know little of him. As I understand, he is rather young for a knight. "

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Mmm, yeah, I guess it would be unreasonable to expect those who don't deal with them regularly to know all of them. Are there at least any that are known to be supportive of you, even if only secretly?"

[Hello Purvis]

> "Mmm, yeah, I guess it would be unreasonable to expect those who don't deal with them regularly to know all of them. Are there at least any that are known to be supportive of you, even if only secretly?"

>Isolde looks down toward the water after Mamizou translates her question. After a moment, she speaks again. "She says, 'I don't think any of them are really friendly with us, but there are many knights under Pendragon, and I don't think I would hear much about all of them. But, Sir Gawain would probably be a friend of the Seelie, from what I hear.' Sir Gawain is one of the younger members of the court, I should add. I hear he is most polite and a friend of the downtrodden."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Nod.
> "That's good to hear."
> Turn to Mamizou.
> "This current authority at least sounds better than the Yamato."

[Hello Purvis]

> Nod.
> "That's good to hear."
> Turn to Mamizou.
> "This current authority at least sounds better than the Yamato."

>"There was never any doubt," says Mamizou. "It would be one of the reasons why I decided to settle here."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Every other place you found before this was that bad, huh? Oh yes, while I'm thinking about it, what continent is this, if it is not Asia?"

[Hello Purvis]

> "Every other place you found before this was that bad, huh? Oh yes, while I'm thinking about it, what continent is this, if it is not Asia?"

>"It is called Europe," says Mamizou. "But I am not sure if it's proper to consider Avalon to be a part of it. It's rather a place unto itself."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Nod.
> "I understand. Gensokyo is much the same way, in that it is technically part of Japan but is sealed off from th rest of Asia. Things coming in from 'the outside world' are usually notable events, and people even more so."

[Hello Purvis]

> Nod.
> "I understand. Gensokyo is much the same way, in that it is technically part of Japan but is sealed off from th rest of Asia. Things coming in from 'the outside world' are usually notable events, and people even more so."

>Mamizou nods. "It is quite a rare thing, here. I suspect the last thing to come from the outside since you would be me. Or so it would seem to me."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Turn back to Isolde.
> "Have any supernatural people other than the two of us shown up here before?"

[Hello Purvis]

> Turn back to Isolde.
> "Have any supernatural people other than the two of us shown up here before?"

>You pose a question to Isolde, and Mamizou translates it for you. The water sprite simply shakes her head.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> How long has it been since we dropped off the sword?
> Does Mamizou have any easy tease targets or strong temptations?

[Hello Purvis]

> How long has it been since we dropped off the sword?
> Does Mamizou have any easy tease targets or strong temptations?

>It's probably been forty to fifty minutes.
>You have successfully teased her about her moneylending in the past, via calling her money obsessed. As well, you've been able to tease her on her less accomplished disguise abilities. Past that, you successes have largely been around exploiting day to day things.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> How 'less accomplished' are we talking here?

[Hello Purvis]

> How 'less accomplished' are we talking here?

>She can't do anything about her ears or tail.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Turn back to Mamizou.
> "You wouldn't happen to know how long the blacksmith would need to fix a weapon, would you?"