Kisume Quest IX - A Z-Machine Adventure

[Hello Purvis]

> "Sure."
> Follow if she leaves.

>She does so.
>As she starts out, she says, "While I believe I heard much of it, may I ask what you were arguing with your mother about?"

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "She wouldn't let it go that I don't eat as much as I could, even though I'd said I had it covered at least once."

[Hello Purvis]

> "She wouldn't let it go that I don't eat as much as I could, even though I'd said I had it covered at least once."

>She nods. "How long have you had this problem handled?"

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Got it covered over the last two days. Earned a blessing from the harvest goddess, and earned a piece of a sun from Yukari. All I need to do is buy some seeds and find some usable dirt in my area of the caves and I'm good to go."

[Hello Purvis]

> "Got it covered over the last two days. Earned a blessing from the harvest goddess, and earned a piece of a sun from Yukari. All I need to do is buy some seeds and find some usable dirt in my area of the caves and I'm good to go."

>"So, it will be solved in several months?" says Shikieiki.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "It'll take some time, but once it's ready I'll be in much better shape than I have been. I've gone this long without it, I can wait just a little bit longer."

[Hello Purvis]

> "It'll take some time, but once it's ready I'll be in much better shape than I have been. I've gone this long without it, I can wait just a little bit longer."

>"Where are you staying, now?" says Shikieiki.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "In the cave that leads to the Ancient City, near the topside entrance."

[Hello Purvis]

> "In the cave that leads to the Ancient City, near the topside entrance."

>"That is quite a rough place," says Shikieiki.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "What, the entrance care or the Ancient City? I'd agree for both, but the latter is unspeakably worse than the former."

[Hello Purvis]

> "What, the entrance care or the Ancient City? I'd agree for both, but the latter is unspeakably worse than the former."

>"Are you certain that you can reliably grow food in such conditions?" says Shikieiki.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "I'm not gonna pretend it'll be easy, but there are places around the area where some stuff grows naturally, so..."
> Put on a look of sudden realization.
> "Ah! I picked some of those things yesterday. Let's see how much of a bloody, unusable mess it all is."
> Pull out our foodstuffs where Eiki can see and examine them.

[Hello Purvis]

> "I'm not gonna pretend it'll be easy, but there are places around the area where some stuff grows naturally, so..."
> Put on a look of sudden realization.
> "Ah! I picked some of those things yesterday. Let's see how much of a bloody, unusable mess it is."
> Pull out our foodstuffs where Eiki can see and examine them.

>Your foodstuffs have fared relatively well, you have taken special care in packing them away. Unfortunately, several grapes have been squished, and two of the mushrooms have been smashed, but you have some hope the latter are still usable in some way. Blood stains a couple of the mushrooms and Kasha's Paw Leaves, but they should still be edible if you clean them off.
>"That does look like it would serve for a couple humble meals," says Shikieiki, as she eyes the foodstuffs. "Is this what you typically have to eat?"

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Food inventory

[Hello Purvis]

> Food inventory

>You foodstuffs are:
>Whitecap Mushroom x13 (Bloodstained x3)
>These can be eaten!
>Smashed Whitecap Mushroom x2
>This can also be eaten, but you aren't especially enthusiastic about the issue.
>Apple Gourd x2
>A gourd with delicious paste inside.
>Stalk of Cave Wheat
>A stem with edible seed pods that can be made into flour
>Kasha Paw Leaves x5 (Bloodstained x2)
>Leaves with rounded edges that can be used for spice.
>Broad Leaf x2
>Tough until boiled; perfect for soups and stews of all kinds.
>Salt Crystal x2
>Fist-sized natural formations of salt.
>Bunch of Grapes (Partially smashed)
>Surprisingly ripe and fresh! Some of them have seen better days.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> How often do we normally get to eat?

[Hello Purvis]

> How often do we normally get to eat?

>On a good day, you get a meal. On a great day, you get more than one.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "On a good day."

[Hello Purvis]

> "On a good day."

>"There aren't many good days, are there?" says Shikieiki.


>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Give a small bemused smile.
> "They wouldn't be the good days if they happened all the time."

[Hello Purvis]

> Give a small bemused smile.
> "They wouldn't be the good days if they happened all the time."

>"I didn't think so," says Shikieiki. "I think I understand where Komachi's concerns come from."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Well, yeah, of course. It's not hard to figure out that I don't eat three times a day every day."

[Hello Purvis]

> "Well, yeah, of course. It's not hard to figure out that I don't eat three times a day every day."

>"I find that unacceptable," says Shikieiki. "We are going to have to find a more reliable way to feed you from now on."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Well, I guess if you're willing to come out to the underground cave three times a day, who am I to refuse?"

[Hello Purvis]

> "Well, I guess if you're willing to come out to the underground cave three times a day, who am I to refuse?"

>"Rather, I was thinking that any time that you wished, you could join us," says Shikieiki. "Or, I suppose, we could make an arrangement elsewhere if that is too far out of your way."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Frown and put our hands on our hips in mock aggravation.
> "And here I was going to wait until Mommy rejoined us before offering up a willingness to visit regularly so you could have the weepy-eyed reunion I know you wanted. Thanks for stealing my thunder, you big meanie."

[Hello Purvis]

> Frown and put our hands on our hips in mock aggravation.
> "And here I was going to wait until Mommy rejoined us before offering up a willingness to visit regularly so you could have the weepy-eyed reunion I know you wanted. Thanks for stealing my thunder, you big meanie."

>She frowns, then shakes her head. "It is a Yama's duty to be efficient."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Let the pose go and anicker.
> "Apparently it's also a Yama's duty to have no sense of humor. But seriously, I would've visited on at least a somewhat regular basis even without any offers of food."

[Hello Purvis]

> Let the pose go and anicker.
> "Apparently it's also a Yama's duty to have no sense of humor. But seriously, I would've visited on at least a somewhat regular basis even without any offers of food."

>"But that was a joke." Shikieiki says, frowning again. "And that is good to hear."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Oh. Well, uh, your straight face is too good."