Kisume Quest VIII - A Z-Machine Adventure

[O4rfish]

>Is it a map of Gensokyo?

[Hello Purvis]

> Can we tell where the hangar is on the map?
> "Them's some spiffy threads."

>"And you must be one of our visiting demons," says the General. "Let me extend to you a welcome and goodbye."

>Is it a map of Gensokyo?

>You think it may be, it would take a few moments of study to be sure as you are only kind of familiar with Gensokyo's layout by this point.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Happy for both."

[Hello Purvis]

> "Happy for both."

>"Good," says the General. "Have a look at this map, and tell us the best way to get where we're going."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Take a proper look at the map. Hopefully we can get some idea of what's where.

[Hello Purvis]

> Take a proper look at the map. Hopefully we can get some idea of what's where.

>You have to examine it for a bit. It does not help that none of the labels are written in a language you understand. Soon, though, you are able to distinguish the Forest of Magic for its greenness on the map, and the blue lake in the middle of it, as well as the red square you assume is the mansion. From there, you are able to find the mountain and the human town, and make some estimates from there. Off to the side, you note a map of the tunnel that leads to the ancient city, and a vary rough mock-up of the city itself, catching some of the major streets.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Can we tell where Higan would be, based on the location of other known things?

[Hello Purvis]

> Can we tell where Higan would be, based on the location of other known things?

>You think so, Higan should be some ways to the north of the human village.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Whereabouts are you popping in?"

[Hello Purvis]

> "Whereabouts are you popping in?"

>"Right here," says the General, tapping a blue dot in the Forest of Magic, southeast of the mansion.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Take a look at what's between the blue dot and the area north of the human village where Higan is supposed to be.

[Hello Purvis]

> Take a look at what's between the blue dot and the area north of the human village where Higan is supposed to be.

>The map north of the human village is pretty threadbare. In fact, aside from the road, you really can't tell what is supposed to be what.  It doesn't help that it's been a long time since you last used that road... You think there is a forest along it.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Frown and wave Kasen over to the map.

[Hello Purvis]

> Frown and wave Kasen over to the map.

>Kasen is already looking at the map. "It's a little difficult, isn't it?" she says.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Point at the blue dot.
> "That's where we'll show up."
> Gesture in the direction of where Higan is supposed to be.
> "They want to know the best way to get to Higan from there. You're almost sure to have been in the area more recently than me. Would that just be heading to the village and then going north?"

[Hello Purvis]

> Point at the blue dot.
> "That's where we'll show up."
> Gesture in the direction of where Higan is supposed to be.
> "They want to know the best way to get to Higan from there. You're almost sure to have been in the area more recently than me. Would that just be heading to the village and then going north?"

>She nods. "That would be the fastest way, but I don't know about the wisdom of taking a group of soldiers through the town."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Can they just go around it?"

[Hello Purvis]

> "Can they just go around it?"

>"That's what I'm thinking," says Kasen, "But we've have to give it quite a bit of space."

>_

[O4rfish]

>Can we think of any notable landmarks or residences missing from the map near the path we would take?

[Hello Purvis]

>Can we think of any notable landmarks or residences missing from the map near the path we would take?

>From the forest to the town, it looks reasonably accurate. Further north from town, you aren't sure. You didn't go out that far.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Look back up at the General.
> "Okay. What I think you'll want to do is head toward the human village here."
> Tap the map where the village is (or just point if we can't reach for some reason).
> "You'll most likely want to go around the village rather than through it, though."
> Point up toward where Higan should be.
> "Head north from the village and you'll eventually hit a river with a lot of spirits around it. My memory's fuzzy on the details for that part of the trip, though."

[Hello Purvis]

> Look back up at the General.
> "Okay. What I think you'll want to do is head toward the human village here."
> Tap the map where the village is (or just point if we can't reach for some reason).
> "You'll most likely want to go around the village rather than through it, though."
> Point up toward where Higan should be.
> "Head north from the village and you'll eventually hit a river with a lot of spirits around it. My memory's fuzzy on the details for that part of the trip, though."

>"It would be wise of them to stay on the road, once they pass the village," says Kasen.
>"And which way would you recommend that we go around the village?" The General says.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Turn back to Kasen.
> "Should they be okay just curving northward as they approach the village?"

[Hello Purvis]

> Turn back to Kasen.
> "Should they be okay just curving northward as they approach the village?"

>"I suppose it depends on how they approach the village," says Kasen. "If they move toward the main road-"
>She runs her finger along the road that runs from the mansion through the village and nearly to the shores of the Sanzu River to emphasize
>"- then they'll already be heading north toward the village. But that would probably be the easiest way to get that far.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Is the mansion south of the village?

[Hello Purvis]

> Is the mansion south of the village?

>It is south of the village.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> What are to the immediate east and west of the village?

[Hello Purvis]

> What are to the immediate east and west of the village?

>To the east is a road that leads to a forest, in which the Hakurei Shrine resides.
>To the west is the graveyard that you tangled with the jiang shi in. You aren't sure what there is further west of it, but you recall seeing some rough grasslands.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "I suppose that's true."
> Look up at Sombraluz.
> "I guess it all depends on how anxious you are to see your blue loop-haired buddy and her idiot servants again."

[Hello Purvis]

> "I suppose that's true."
> Look up at Sombraluz.
> "I guess it all depends on how anxious you are to see your blue loop-haired buddy and her idiot servants again."

>"Frankly, I'd be just as happy to take her over my shoulder and introduce to her to the ground," says Sombraluz. "She would have been a useful distraction, but with plans having changed as they have, I'm happy to wash my hands of her entirely."

>_